Ruth Eslinger Icamen

Birth: March 26, 1931 | Died: January 11, 2022

Ruth Eslinger Icamen (formerly Pack) went home to Jesus on January 11, 2022.  She was the only child of Jesse and Carrie Mitchell Eslinger of Knoxville Tennessee.  Ruth was born at the Lincoln Park home of her grandmother, Rettie Maples Mitchell, on March 26, 1931.  She lived in that home for her first three years, and then in the surrounding Knoxville neighborhoods of Burlington, Fountain City, and Halls.  She graduated from Central High School in 1949 and was a member of the Fountain City Methodist Church. Ruth attended Maryville College for one year and then transferred to the University of Tennessee where she graduated in1953 with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition.  She then worked at Saint Mary’s hospital as a Dietitian where she met Ida Lowery Pack and her son, Bill.  William Robert Pack was an orderly at the hospital and, before the year ended, she would follow Bill to Los Angeles, California via the Southern Railway.  They were married at the courthouse on December 21, 1953. The marriage was blessed with two daughters, Sherrie (Len) Johnson and Debra (Martin) Gilberstadt. Bill worked for Parts Wholesalers, Inc.which was later purchased by the Chrysler Corporation.  Ruth worked off and on as a dietician and bookkeeper.  Two of her favorite work stories included that she worked for the company that built the original Batmobile for the 1960’s TV series, and that she met Lou Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) when he played basketball for UCLA.  Her impression was that he was very tall, especially compared to her five-foot frame. Ruth enjoyed genealogy, reading, fishing, and watching sports.  Genealogy led her to a nearly 28-year membership in Katuktu Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.  She and Debra even marked their Revolutionary War patriot’s previously unmarked grave in Sevier County, Tennessee in 1996.  Ruth was also proud to be a member of First Families of Tennessee.  She was a big fan of the Dodgers and the Angels and watched all sports played by University of Tennessee. Go Vols! Bill passed away on November 2, 1990, and she later married Raymond G. Icamen.  Ray was also a Chrysler employee and long-time friend of Ruth and Bill.  They married on April 10, 1995 and lived happily until his death on April 5, 2000. In December of 2016, Ruth returned to Knoxville to live out her days at Raintree Terrace Senior Living.   She loved being involved in their many activities, especially Bingo. Last March, she celebrated her 90^th birthday with all her favorites – Filet mignon, lobster, strawberry shortcake, and white zinfandel. Ruth had five grandchildren: Kelly (Robert) Martin, Jessica (Paul) Guerard, Martin II (Chelsea) Gilberstadt, Christopher Johnson, and Teresa (Jon) Burger.  She had four great grandsons: Shepherd Guerard, Emmett Martin, Jonathan and Noah Burger. She had numerous nieces and nephews.  Anthony Goodyear, Raymond’s stepson, was a close friend until the end. Services will be at Hilgenfeld Mortuary in Anaheim, California on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. and a graveside service will be at Loma Vista Memorial Park in Fullerton, California at approximately 12:45 p.m. She will be laid to rest with her parents and Raymond.