Alma Rydbom
Alma Rydbom

Obituary of Alma Pauline Rydbom

Alma Rydbom passed away the evening of January 25, 2009. Alma is survived by her remaining children Noel (Sandy) Rydbom, Dr. Nancy (Alvin) Rothbauer, and Rick Rydbom; her grandchildren Rachael, Sarah, Ian, Shannon, and Erik; and her great-grandchildren Lianna and River. Alma was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Stanley W. Rydbom in 2008 and her oldest son Dr. Karl Stanley Rydbom in 2002. Alma was also preceded in death by her brothers Robert Schneider in 1994 and Calvin Schneider in 1947. Alma was born to Max J. and Eva (Horton) Schneider in Bentleyville, PA on May 07, 1920. She was the oldest of their three children; Alma, Robert and Calvin. Alma graduated from Nurse’s Training at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA in 1941. She joined the U.S. Army as a nurse on November 5, 1942. Alma served in the U.S. and in the Pacific Theatre of Operations as did her two brothers Robert, a Navy Pilot, and Calvin, a Navy Seaman. Alma was a pretty young nurse in the Army Hospital at Edgewood Arsenal in 1942 when she met a handsome young patient; Lt. Stanley W. Rydbom. Shortly after the two of them began dating, Alma was transferred to serve in the Pacific and Stan to serve in Europe where he was awarded the Bronze Star for his role in the Normandy Invasion of June 06, 1944. Lt. Alma P. Schneider went on to serve in Australia, New Guinea, and in the Philippines as an Army nurse in the Third Field Hospital. Alma served at the famous battle of Zig Zag Pass in the campaign to retake the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines, 1945. She was honorably discharged with the rank of Lieutenant on September 15, 1945. The budding romance endured the rigors of WWII. Lt. Alma P. Schneider and Capt. Stanley W. Rydbom were married in Alma’s hometown of Bentleyville, PA on January 06, 1946. Alma and Stan moved to Seattle, WA. Alma supported the new family by working as a nurse at Swedish Hospital while Stan attended the University of Washington Dental School and graduated in 1951. Alma and Stan lived in Newport, WA from 1951-1958 where Stan practiced dentistry and then moved with their four children to Lakewood, WA. Alma was a homemaker and she also worked alongside Stan in the dental practice until they retired in 1980. Alma purchased ski lessons for the two of them in 1964 for their 18th anniversary. This prompted many local family outings and ski trips throughout the years. She and Stan passed that love of snow sports along to her children and grand children. Alma and Stan loved to pick huckleberries in the mountains in the fall. She loved to work among her flowers in her gardens on American Lake. Alma loved a good game of Continental Rummy and everyone loved her discards. Alma made some beloved friends at the pool where she swam three times a week for twenty years. Alma entertained her family and friends with love and caring. She was always ready to set an extra plate for dinner. She had a lovely sense of humor, loved to watch football and attended football games with Stan at UW for many years. She loved us. We miss her dearly. Thanks for dinner Mom. Memorial Services and interment of her remains will be held this May in Newport, WA. A measure of her cremated remains will be placed by her loving remaining children along with the measure of Stan’s at the summit of Silver Queen at Crystal Mountain, WA with a magnificent view of Mt. Rainier.
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Edwards Memorial | University Place
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