RUTH P. RANDALL, 78, died at her home in Estes Park, Colo. on Aug. 11, 2009, after a four year battle with cancer.

She was born in Fort Collins, Colo. on Feb. 18, 1931, the daughter of Dr. Wesley E. Pyke and Lela Pyke. Dr. Pyke was the head of the chemistry department at Colorado State University.

Ruth graduated from Fort Collins High School in the class of 1949 and later received a B.S. in foods and nutrition at CSU. She was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

Ruth married James A. “Jim” Randall, a forestry graduate of CSU on Feb. 18, 1953, and the couple had two sons, Robin W. Randall born in Carlsbad, N.M., and Wayne J. Randall born in Douglas, Ariz.

The Randall family lived at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, N.M., Chiricahua National Monument, Ariz., Fairfax, Va., Lassen Volcanic National Park, Calif., Springfield, Va., Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz., Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Utah, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colo. and Wind Cave National Park, S.D.

Ruth started the recycling program at Rocky Mountain National Park and wrote “Eco Echoes” for the park newsletter. She volunteered at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and worked many years at Judy’s Flowers. In the early 70s, Ruth and Nancy Swickard organized and directed the Estes Park Learning Exchange which involved local talent and expertise giving classes and programs in crafts and various other skills. She enjoyed golf, the book club, hiking and camping, sailing at Lake Granby and the Sea of Cortez, and rafting on the Colorado, Yampa and Green Rivers. The couple have spent the last several winters in Green Valley.

She was preceded in death by her son Wayne Randall; and is survived by her husband Jim and son Robin Randall of Estes Park.

No memorial service is planned, but a remembrance will be held later in the fall.

Any contributions in her name may be made to the Hospice of Estes Valley, P.O. Box 2740, Estes Park, CO80517.