Ruth Elizabeth Smith

Ruth Elizabeth (England) Smith, born February 6th, 1938, passed away on February 12th, 2025, in Colorado. She was 87 years old.

Ruth grew up in Painesville, OH, graduating from Harvey High School in 1956 and proceeding to Baldwin-Wallace University where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1960. She taught in Painesville Township Public Schools from 1960-1963.

In 1963, Ruth married Carl Hedin Smith of Melrose, MA., who passed away in 2023 at the age of 84. The two moved to Chicago then to Denver when Carl joined the Denver Rio Grande and Western Railroad.

After Carl’s retirement, they traveled in the US and Canada. The highlight of their travels was a 3-week trip to Australia in 1989.

Ruth and Carl enjoyed watching sports of all kinds, with particular interest in the Denver Broncos. They were season ticket holders for many years.

Ruth was a devoted and loving full-time mom to her two children and worked part-time in various bookstores from 1986-2001, as she was an avid reader.

From 1971-2014, Ruth enjoyed doing volunteer work at Rocky Mountain PBS. She donated her time in many respects to their fundraising auctions. The highlight of her volunteer work was when she served as the Station’s Archived Memories (SAM) Station Research Chair from 2001-2014.

Ruth is survived by her daughter Anne of NH and son Phil, as well as her sister Judi of Painesville, OH, and her children, Ruthanne, and Michael, and her three grandchildren Jordan, Lauren, and Sophie.

Ruth will be placed peacefully at rest in a columbarium at Fort Logan National Cemetery alongside her husband, Carl.

4400 W. Kenyon Avenue

Denver, Colorado 80236

Fort Logan National Cemetery | Veterans Affairs (va.gov)

No public services will be held.