Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Ruth Olafson Gidcumb, 95, of Edgewater, died of natural causes on April 12, 2008. Ruth was born in Proctor, MN on February 7, 1913, to Icelandic immigrants, Sarah and Theodore Olafson and was the second of four daughters (Christine, Caroline and Florence) who preceded her in death. 


After graduating from high school, she followed her older sister Christine to Washington, D.C., where both worked for the Federal Government. Later her mother and sister Florence followed. Her sister Caroline died in her early twenties. She married Sidney B. Sowers and their union produced a daughter, Arlene. She later married married Calvin A. Gidcumb, whom she divorced in 1969. She retired as a statistician from the VA in 1970. After retiring, Ruth and her sister Christine along with granddaughter, Lynn. Moved from Washington, D.C. to Edgewater. Until her passing, she resided with Lynn and her husband Carl Welch of Edgewater. 


Ruth was devoted to friends and family, was an expert candy-maker, enjoyed china painting, sewing, cooking and all animals-especially cats. She also enjoyed keeping up with her Icelandic Heritage. For many years she was involved with the Eastern Star, the Knights of Pythias, the Londontowne Peppers, the South County Senior Center, the ladies auxiliary of Woodland Beach and Eastport Fire Departments, Ryland Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. and Parkwood Methodist Church in Edgewater. She volunteered for over 13 years at the Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis. 


She is survived by her daughter, Arlene Sowers Lawson of Upper Marlboro, MD, Lynn and Carl Welch of Edgewater, MD and nieces Bonnie Sundquist Rogers and family of Charlottesville, VA and Marian Arbour Connor of Augusta, West Virginia, and Theodore Arbour and family of Duluth, MN. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Ruth's name to the American Red Cross, PO Box 4002018, Des Moines, IA 50340-2018.

Ruth Gidcumb

Ruth Gidcumb

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