Grandma’s Memoir

Ruth Gibson (nee Burley) lived through almost all of the twentieth century. A prolific writer with much to say, she spent her later years typing out her memoir on an old Remington typewriter. Sadly, she died before she could have it published. Her grandson, Steve Boilard, discovered the typewritten manuscript in a closet after his father had died in 2017. He edited the memoir and added a chapter that covers Ruth's final years. Ruth's memoir describes her childhood in prewar, small-town America; coming of age during the Great Depression; her contributions to the American war effort during World War II; and finding and losing love. She offers timeless insights about perseverance, human relationships, and the importance of family. Told with heartfelt candor and gentle humor, it is a moving story about life in twentieth-century America.