Ruth E. Findling

She was born in Chicago to Oscar E. and Thelma C. Bransky but had been a Florida resident for more than 50 years. She moved to Tallahassee in 1999. In 1938, she married Willard F. Findling, an engineer and painting contractor, who died in 1998. She and Willard had three children: John E. Findling (Carol) of Louisville, KY, a professor emeritus of history at Indiana University Southeast; and a partner in Collectors’ Stamps, Ltd., of Louisville; Janet L. Findling,, of Tallahassee, a lawyer, family mediator, and legal advocate for persons who are poor, disabled, or elderly, and Fred Findling of Tempe, AZ, formerly an engineer for a CBS affiliate in Lafayette, LA, and now for Echo Star, the parent company of DISH Network. She had one grandchild, Jamey, John’s son, a philosophy professor at Newman College in Wichita, KS, and two great-grandchildren.

Ruth earned a B.A. in Speech Pathology from the University of Michigan in 1937, and a Master’s degree in Special Education from Florida Atlantic University in 1969. Over the years, she worked as a substitute teacher, an intake coordinator for both a non-profit counseling agency and for the HRS Epilepsy Services Program, and as an office manager for Fleischer’s Inc., in West Palm Beach, a painting business co-owned by her husband.

An active volunteer all of her life, Ruth was a member of the League of Women Voters for 52 years, serving at various times as president, co-president, education chair, treasurer, and board member for over 35 years of the West Palm Beach LWV. She served four years on the state board of the League, two as membership chair and two as treasurer. She volunteered with the PTA organization for more than 20 years. She was also active with the March of Dimes, the Friends of the Library, the American Civil Liberties Union, AARP, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, FSU music events and the Tallahassee Little Theater. She worked with migrant workers’ organizations and with the public defender’s office, helping migrants and new parolees find jobs, apartments, and a useful place in the local community. She enjoyed participating for many years in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida State University. She also had an abiding love for animals, especially dogs, which she enjoyed as “adopted children” all her life. Later in life, Ruth and Willard traveled extensively, visiting Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Peru, Poland, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Australia, as well as much of the United States and Canada. She lived a long, full, and productive life, full of love for her family and a strong belief in social justice and service to her community.

The family is planning a private service, but donations may be made to the League of Women Voters of Tallahassee (P.O. Box 10216, Tallahassee 32301-2216) or friends may donate time to a worthwhile cause in Ruth’s honor.

Arrangements are under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood in Tallahassee, Florida.