Ruth Hamburger Frenkel

Ruth Regina (Hamburger) Frenkel, age 94, of Conway, Arkansas, passed away on January 29, 2026. She was born on February 2, 1931, in Bad Kissingen, Germany, the youngest daughter of Heinrich Hans “Henry” Hamburger and Rose (Walter) Hamburger.

As a young child, she fled Germany due to antisemitic persecution in the country and immigrated to the United States. Initially living in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood, Ruth and her family quickly moved to the small town of McGehee, Arkansas, where Henry’s brothers, William and Adolph, had settled years earlier. After the family moved to McGehee, Ruth’s father established himself in the cattle business, and she began attending school there.

Ruth graduated from McGehee High School in 1949. Thereafter, she met the love of her life, Herbert, on a blind date. They subsequently married on November 30, 1958, at Temple B’nai Israel in Little Rock, Arkansas. Herbert was a longtime pharmacist in Central Arkansas until his retirement in 1993, and Ruth worked alongside him, frequently making deliveries and helping at the pharmacy. The couple lived in Conway for decades and were active in community and civic life. Ruth was known to enjoy life to the fullest and loved her family and friends immensely. In later years, she cherished spending quality time with her daughter and grandchildren.

Many of Ruth’s closest friends will fondly recall her baking her famous lemon cake ahead of the holidays. Additionally, she was always quick to remember loved ones' birthdays and made sure to call and send a card on their special day. Ruth always stuck to her routine, never missing her morning crossword puzzle or her cup of decaf coffee. In the last few decades of her life, Ruth was a regular at the Conway Regional Fitness Center, where she enjoyed exercising on the bike and making friends along the way. She was a passionate fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks and St. Louis Cardinals and would often get together with friends to watch games.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Hamburger and Rose (Walter) Hamburger; her loving husband, Herbert Leo Frenkel; her parents-in-law, Edmund Frenkel and Elma (Loeb) Frenkel; her sister, Elsie (Hamburger) Phillips; and her brother-in-law, Harry Phillips. She is survived by her daughter, Ellen Rose (Frenkel) Kirsch, and three grandchildren — Max “Asher” Kirsch, Eli Frenkel Kirsch, and Eden Rose Kirsch.

Throughout the years, Ruth was involved in numerous civic organizations and clubs, including Junior Auxiliary of Conway, AR (NAJA), Faulkner County Democratic Women, P.E.O. Sisterhood of Conway, and Twentieth Century Club’s Conway chapter. She was always committed to volunteering, including at Ida Burns Elementary School, where she served as a PTA member when Ellen was a child. Ruth and her late husband were also very active at both Synagogue Agudath Achim and Temple B’nai Israel of Little Rock.

The funeral will be a private graveside service with Rabbi Mark Biller officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Synagogue Agudath Achim (https://lrsynagogue.org/), the USC Shoah Foundation (https://sfi.usc.edu/), or the Arkansas Food Bank (https://arkansasfoodbank.org/). Alternatively, donations may be made to another charity of your choice or an individual or family facing hardship.

Our devoted and beloved mother and grandmother will live forever in our hearts and will be endlessly missed. May her memory be a blessing to all who knew and loved her.