Seattle memorial pays tribute to 'Grandma Ruth,' 80-year-old dogwalker killed in 2024 carjacking Noel Gasca August 22, 2025 / 12:34 pm

It’s been one year since Ruth Dalton, an 80-year-old professional dogwalker, was killed during a carjacking in Seattle’s Madison Valley neighborhood.

Now, Dalton’s community, and their furry companions, have a new spot to remember the woman known as “Grandma Ruth.”

About 100 of Dalton’s friends, family members, and former clients gathered at the edge of Madison Park Beach on Wednesday night to celebrate the unveiling of two new benches dedicated to Dalton, and her dog Prince, who was also killed in the attack.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell attended the ceremony, and decried Dalton’s killing as “senseless.”

“When you see a person that has lived suc

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