Pictured above Comrade Ruth Kells and NS/NU Command 2nd Vice President Joanne Geddes.

Comrade Ruth Kells of Centennial Branch 160, celebrated her 100th Birthday with family and friends on 24 July 2025 in Dartmouth, NS. Ruth is a remarkable woman who has dedicated her life to service both to our country and community. She started working for National Defence in Halifax at the age of 17, then at 18 she enrolled in the RCAF and worked as a Wireless Operator. She fell in love with motorcycles and had purchased her own and used it to travel from posting to posting until being released in October of 1945 from NDHQ in Ottawa. Shortly after her release, while living in Toronto, Ruth was contacted by the RCAF asking her to re-enlist as they could use her skills as a Wireless Operator, which she did without hesitation. Ruth was then posted to RCAF Dartmouth NS from February to December of 1946 when she took her release again. This time on release she made Vancouver BC her new home where she worked as a stenographer. Very shortly thereafter, in 1947, again Ruth was contacted to re-enroll and she was off  to Prince Rupert, Victoria and an installation just outside of Vancouver until voluntarily releasing again 1952. This time Ruth decided to return to NS and she traded in her motorcycle for a MiniMinor car, drove south to California, across through Oklahoma, Texas and then north to Canada crossing at Dearborn, Michigan (approximately 8000 miles). A most daring and adventurous trip for a single young lady in the early fifties.

During the Korean war, Ruth was contacted again and asked to move to Leitrim Ottawa to continue working as a Wireless Operator and she remained there until requesting an administrative transfer to National Defence Headquarters in December of 1956. While working as a civilian, Ruth decided to join the RCAF Reserves and it was during her training there that she met the love of her life, LCol Wesley Kells. They married on 30 March 1957 and welcomed their only child, David Kells on 11 March 1958. David later married his lovely wife Cathy and they had three beautiful children, Meaghan, Patrick and Katie. All glowing with love and adoration on this milestone birthday celebration for Ruth.

At the age of 91, Ruth was chosen to represent The Royal Canadian Legion on a trip to France with Veterans Affairs to help commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Dieppe. Ruth has truly left her mark and in the words of the Dominion Command President, Comrade Berkley Lawrence, “We are all very grateful to you and your service to Canada as you helped forge this nation into the outstanding Country it is. You have been not only a witness to history throughout the last century but you helped create history”.