Ruth B. Holt

Ruth Delilah Bowman Holt, of Houston, passed away Saturday, the 19th of March 2016. She was born the 19th of November 1930 in Dalton, Pennsylvania, to William Emerson Bowman and Clementine Keeler Bowman, she grew up in Indiana, Pennsylvania.

Ruth graduated from Indiana High School and attended Indiana State Teachers College. She worked in the General Extension offices of Penn State University, State College, Pennsylvania, and for Shell Development Company and architect Ted Turk, in Houston, Texas.

Ruth met the love of her life, Edward Holt, Jr., in church choir in State College. They married in her home church in Indiana, and made their home in Houston, Texas. She devoted her life to her home and family, volunteering at PTA events and at Girl Scout activities, and providing transportation for countless field and camping trips. She brightened the world with her sunny smile, infectious laugh, positive attitude, willingness to listen to anyone, anytime, and her heaven-on-earth voice.

Ruth was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church LCMS—Houston for over 50 years, and a member of the church choir for the majority of those years. She also sang in the Houston Symphony Chorale for several years, and was an often-requested soloist for weddings and funerals.

Surviving family include: children Barbara Szalkowski, Marjorie Russell and husband Steve, son Will and wife Gay; step-daughter Maggie Stockwell and husband Chris, grandchildren Zack Curry and wife Marisa, Mitch Curry, Matthew Szalkowski and fiancée Sophie; step-grandchildren Hope and Will Stockwell; great-grandchildren Isla, Owen, and Emmi Curry; a nephew, four nieces and their families.

The memorial service is to be conducted at ten o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 2nd of April, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 5315 Main St. in Houston. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions can be made to St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 5315 Main St., Houston, TX 77004; Houston Symphony Chorus Endowment, 615 Louisiana Street, Suite 102, Houston, TX 77002; or Houston Public Media, Classical Music Programming, 4343 Elgin, Houston, TX 77204.