Ruth Reed

Ruth Reed, 90, a joyful and beloved resident of St. Dominic Village in Houston, TX entered into Heaven on April 20, 2016. Ruth was born on March 28, 1926 in Eastland, TX to Herbert Ivan and Ora Helen Reed. When she and her older sister, Gloria, were both toddlers, their mother passed away. Their father promised to raise their daughters as musicians, so from a very early age, Gloria studied piano and harp, and Ruth studied violin as they grew up in Eastland. Herbert later remarried and had a son, Donald, who became a horn player.

Ruth attended Hardin-Simmons University in Texas, St. Mary’s College in Indiana, Dunbarton College in Washington, D.C., and Eastman School of Music in New York. She received a Master of Music Degree with a Major in Violin and a Minor in Education at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Later she continued studies at Fordham University in New York, Loyola College in Maryland, University of Texas at Arlington, and the University of North Texas.

Ruth was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church at the age of 18 and became Sister Helen Miriam in the Congregation of the Sisters of Holy Cross from 1948 - 1971 where she contributed teaching service for over two decades. She also served as the Principal of Holy Cross High School in Austin from 1965-69. Ruth was an accomplished violinist and over her lifetime played for the Catholic University Symphony, University of Texas, Austin Symphony, South Bend Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Richardson Symphony Orchestra, Waco Symphony Orchestra, Garland/Irving Symphony Orchestra, Garland/Las Colinas Symphony, Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra, Lake Lewisville Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Arts District Ensemble, and was an active player with Les Amis musical group. She was also a member of numerous professional organizations primarily relating to education.

Ruth was a public school violin teacher and string player in the Dallas, TX area for over 35 years prior to moving to Houston in 2007 to be closer to her family. She continued playing her violin for the Catholic masses at her retirement community right up until a month before she passed away. Ruth will be remembered for her passionate faith in Jesus, exuberant love for her church and friends, as well as her zeal as a violinist and a music educator. She was a generous, humble, kind, intelligent, and humorous individual with a fun personality and will be missed by so many who loved her. She appreciated nature and enjoyed spending time in the summers at the ocean.

Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Gloria Ambrose, her brother Donald Reed, and niece Ruth Zarzemski. She is survived by nephew Rod Ambrose and wife Effie, nieces Barbara Ambrose, Catherine Ello and husband Mike, Elizabeth Hill and husband Kenneth, her niece Ruth’s husband Hank Zarzemski, and many grand nephews and nieces.

Her funeral mass will be held on Monday, April 25, 2016 at 10:30 am with a viewing at 9:30 am at the St. Dominic Village Warren Chapel, 2401 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77021. Her graveside service will be on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, at 2:00 pm at Sacred Heart Cemetery, 3900 Rowlett Road, Rowlett, TX 75088. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made online to Star of Hope Homeless Shelter at www.sohmission.org.