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Ruth Winn Lewis died February 12, 2007 at El Castillo Retirement Residence in Santa Fe. Born in Korea in 1915 to Presbyterian missionaries, she came to the U.S. at age 10 with her widowed mother and two older brothers to live in Emporia, Kansas. She attended Stephens College in Missouri and College of Emporia before finishing a degree in psychology at University of Oklahoma. At age 50 she earned an MA in Counseling at UNM, where she was a student advisor. Ruth served with the Red Cross during World War II, wading ashore with the first contingent of U.S. GIs to enter Italy. In 1946 she married Edwin James Lewis Jr., also of Emporia, and moved with him to Belen, NM, where they purchased the Belen News and began a career in printing and publishing that lasted more than thirty years. In 1948 they moved to Albuquerque, where in 1952 they bought the Oil News and Uranium Digest. In 1960 they started Newspaper Printing Corporation, which specialized in printing of non-daily newspapers and became Modern Press Inc., publisher of the weekly Albuquerque NEWS and semi-weekly Valencia County News Bulletin. Among their employees Ruth was known for her compassion as well as for her high expectations. Ruth was an outspoken political activist and advocate for women, reproductive choice and end-of-life choices. A poll worker active in the League of Women Voters, she was also active in the Republican Party until recent years when she became increasingly alienated by the Bush Administration's policies. She helped found the New Mexico Welsh Society, and was active in First Presbyterian Church and Pi Beta Phi sorority. Small in stature, Ruth had many friends and was known for her big heart, pioneering spirit, active mind, bright style, and playful wit. Survivors include her daughters Wyn Lewis of Santa Fe; Gwenyth Lewis and husband Chuck Holtz of Berwyn, PA; son Thomas and friend Irene Chavira of Albuquerque; grandsons Daniel and Trevor Lewis of Portland, OR, and grandchildren Sarah (Holtz) & Steve Wilson, Rhianwen (Lewis-Holtz) & Michael Benner , and Tegwyn Lewis-Pine. In lieu of flowers the family invites contributions to Planned Parenthood, El Castillo Employee Fund (250 E. Alameda, Santa Fe, NM 87501) or First Presbyterian Church's Emergency Aid Fund (208 Grant Ave., Santa Fe, NM 87501.) A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at First Presbyterian Church Santa Fe.
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