Sophie Adele Cruver

Sophie Adele Cruver passed from this life on Wednesday, the 9th April, 2008 to continue her journey with her Lord and departed family members and friends. Sophie was born to Walter Ratka and Sophie Wyrzucka in Brooklyn, New York on Christmas day in 1921 but due to clerical errors her birth date was recorded as December 26, 1921. As a little girl she was raised by her sister Jenny in New York City and on her parent\u0027s farm in Columbia, New Jersey surviving the Great Depression. Sophie left formal schooling after the eighth grade due to the passing of her mother but continued her education through informal schooling and life experiences. During WWII she initially worked as a "Rosie the Riveter", manufacturing artillery shells at the Picatinney Arsenal but on 1 September, 1943 she joined the Women\u0027s Army Air Corps. Sophie served as a Weather Plotter at the Pentagon while stationed at Bolling Air Field and met Clark Gable who was an Army Pilot. Clark Gable borrowed Sophie\u0027s pen for his flight plan and never returned it. Sophie was discharged as a Sergeant on 13 November, 1945 and returned to civilian life where she worked in food services in New York City. Sophie continued through life\u0027s journey on the East coast until she met Milton Cooper Cruver and his daughter Sandra Lee and they were married on 24 June, 1954 in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Sophie was a housewife until the birth of their daughters Bonnie Marie and Anita; then she became a full time mom. Anita passed away at birth and the family moved to Illinois where their son Milton Leroy was born. Sophie focused her attention on being a wife and mother and was very active with the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. She was also a master gardener and a member of the African Violet Club where she specialized in growing numerous varieties of beautiful plants. In 1968 the family vacationed to Arizona and Sophie fell in love with the Cottonwood area for its beauty and climate. In 1969 the family moved initially to Clarkdale and later to Cottonwood where they bought the house which would remain as the gathering point for all friends and family until this day. Sophie was a member of and active in the American Legion, Veteran\u0027s of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Disabled American Veteran\u0027s Auxiliary and the Marine Corps League. Sophie and Milton managed the Bingo Nights at the VFW in Cottonwood for many years and she remained as an active participant after his passing on 11 July, 2004. Sophie was assisted throughout the last 4 years of life by long time family friend "Uncle" George Lightel. She will be missed by her bingo partners Catalina Hernandez \u0026 Barbara Kuzala. Sophie was held in the arms of her family at the VA Medical Center in Prescott until she was greeted into heaven by the Lord and her previously departed family members and friends. Sophie was a wonderful and loving daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be missed by all who knew her. Sophie was preceded in death by her parents, Walter Ratka and Sophie Wyrzucka; her sister, Jenny; brothers, Joseph, Stanley, Bill and Vleswouf; her daughter, Anita; her step-daughter, Sandra Lee; and her husband, Milton Cooper. Sophie is survived by her children, Bonnie Marie (Cruver) Holden with her husband, Jim, and Milton Leroy Cruver with his wife, Joni; twelve grand-children, Jennifer Smith, Jason and Justin Russell, Catherine Adele and Milton Clinton Cruver, Fred, Lisa and Charlene Troy, Jimmy, Jackie and Jennifer Holden, and Ryan Rudolph; and Twenty-one great-grandchildren, Amelia, Parker, and Katie of Illinois, Jason Jr., Chevy, Keegan, Tayte, Gabrielle, Chelsea, Stefan, Devin, Dominic, Korey, Krystal, Matthew, Skylar, Haylee, Christian, Bricen, Lyndzie, and Brandon of Washington. A Visitation with a Gathering of Family and Friends was held at Westcott Funeral Home in Cottonwood on Friday evening, April 11, 2008 from 5:00 7:00pm. In further honor of her beloved memory; a Military Memorial Service will be held at a later date. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com