Ruth Speier was born in Baumbach, Germany on 4 October 1926 to Frieda (Herschberg) Speier and Isidore Speier. She was the middle of 5 children: Hanna, Irma, Siggy and Al. She attended a 1 room schoolhouse starting in 1933. Until grade 3 she was treated normally. After that a Nazi teacher separated out the Jewish children and harassed them. She witnessed her father’s arrest for being a shochet in 1936. After he was released they were finally able to emigrate to the US in 1938. Starting 6th grade in Buffalo knowing no one and very little English, she was able to learn and meet people quickly, excelling in school and making many friends. Upon graduation in 1945 she learned of the tragic enslavement of several of her relatives who had remained in Germany and the deaths of many others. She met the love of her life at a Valentine’s Day party in 1948. The date lasted 60 years. They were married 8/28/49 and overcame layoffs, illness and loss, but experienced the joys of marriage, children, simchot, and grandchildren. Ruth worked as a secretary and then as a paralegal until retirement at age 75. She enjoyed volunteer work at Temple Beth Tzedek as long as she was able. She instilled love, loyalty, integrity and ahavat yisrael into her family. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Yurka and her husband John, by her son Earl and his wife Tamara. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Joshua, Ilana and Leah Yurka and Zachary (his wife Shira) and Aviva Norman. She is also survived by her great grandchildren: Olive, Teddy, Charlie and Maxibillion Norman. Zichrona livracha.