Ruth Eileen Sullivan

In Loving Memory of Ruth Eileen Sullivan Ruth

 Eileen Sullivan entered her heavenly home on June 21, 2026 with family by her side. Ruth was born in Mt Lake, MN on August 22, 1954. She was the fourth child and only daughter born to Peter and Edna Dick. She had three older brothers Gilbert (Jaylee), Jerold (Karen) and Eugene (Roxy). 

As a young girl, her dad moved their family to a farm in Grove City, MN. Ruth tended to the animals, worked in the fields, and also cared for her pony named Winky. Ruth accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at a Bible Camp her senior year of high school. After graduating, Ruth went to Vancouver Bible College for three years and received a certificate in Christian Education and then moved to Kent, WA where she became a dental assistant. She and her first husband Will Bachand were active members at Kent Alliance Church and they had two children: Neill and Laurie.

 She loved sports throughout her life! After moving to Kent, she faithfully played softball despite a heart condition that would often make her black out when running the bases. Rather than giving up, Ruth simply perfected her swing to hit only home runs so she could be back in the dugout for the short period of unconsciousness. Dedication, fortitude, strength, and resilience marked every aspect of her life. With each pregnancy, the heart symptoms worsened so, at the age of thirty-five, she went through open heart surgery at the National Institute of Health which gave her thirty-two years of vibrant life before a heart transplant was required in July, 2021. Her faith in God was a true source of hope and peace through all of her health challenges.

Ruth’s greatest joy was her children and her grandchildren. Her unwavering support and love for them were known by friends far and wide. Ruth worked for sixteen years as a ticketing and gate agent for American Airlines which afforded her the ability to visit her kids and take them all around the world. She traveled to more than twelve countries - documenting all she experienced in dozens of scrapbooks that will be cherished for years to come. Along with travel, she loved people and made a concerted effort to add and never subtract from her group of friends. She invested in others, extended hospitality to strangers, and showed her faith through a true servant heart. From new friends to forever ones, Ruth will be remembered for her endless creativity and hysterical sense of humor. She married her second husband, Tim Sullivan in 2016 who joined her international adventures and supported her in the latter part of life. She is survived by her husband of nine years, Tim Sullivan; two children, Neill Bachand and Laurie Farinella; one son-in-law Johnny Farinella; two stepdaughters, Kally and Kathryn Sullivan; grandchildren Vivianna, Mia, Tony, Evalina, Gino (children of Laurie and Johnny) and Mila (child of Kathryn); and two brothers, Gilbert and Eugene.

 A celebration of life will be held on August 23, 2026 at 3:00pm at Harvest Bible Church in Phoenix, AZ followed by a reception with family and friends. A graveside service will be held on August 24 at 9:00am at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.

 Ruth will be remembered for her strength, genuine love for others, her adventurous spirit, and unwavering faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.