Mary Ruth Bedford

Mary Ruth Bedford, a most remarkable and selfless woman, left this earth to join her Lord on December 15, 2024 at the age of 101. Mary Ruth was born May 31, 1923 in Roswell, NM and grew up in Lynchburg, VA. She is preceded in death by father, Sidney Bedford, mother, Jennie Pearl Hutchison Bedford, and brother, Sidney Bedford Jr. She is survived by various cousins. Mary Ruth’s father was a minister and her mother a teacher. Mary Ruth and her brother learned the importance of hard work, education, philanthropy, and commitment to family from their loving parents.

Mary Ruth realized that she wanted to be a dietitian while she was in college. She received a B.S. in Dietetics and Institutional Management from James Madison University in Virginia in 1943. She then worked as a Dietetic Intern and staff dietician at the Univ of Colorado Medical Center in Denver and also worked at various hospitals, nursing homes, colleges and universities as well as for the North Carolina State Board of Health and the Veteran’s Administration. She later received her Master’s degree in 1971 and her doctorate degree in 1975, both from Kansas State University. After her doctorate, she taught undergraduate and graduate programs at Virginia Tech, MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston, and University of Southern Mississippi. Through her sustained dedication to assisting graduate students to achieve their educational goals, Mary Ruth made a significant impact on the lives of many people who currently work in the field of dietetics.

Upon becoming a member of the American Dietetic Association 1945, Mary Ruth was active in local, state and national activities, particularly dietetic educational activities and food service management. She served on the ADA Executive Committee from 1979 to 1982, as Chairwoman of the ADA Council on Education from 1981 to 1982 and as Chairwoman of the ADA Members with Management Responsibilities in Health Care Delivery Systems Practice Group from 1985 to 1986. She also served as a site visitor for various dietetic educational programs. Mary Ruth was one of five people awarded a Medallion from the ADA in 1992. Mary Ruth received several honors and awards throughout her career and was a member of the following honorary societies: Phi Delta Kappa, Phi Delta Gamma, Phi Upsilon Omicron, Omicron Nu and Alpha Psi Omega.

On a personal note, Mary Ruth possessed an eternally youthful spirit and was a lover of life. She always looked at the bright side of life and enjoyed her friends, good food, holidays and great chocolate! Extremely generous and thoughtful, her focus was always on others and never on herself. Mary Ruth was a beloved educator and mentor maintaining many long-lasting relationships with her students. She lived an active lifestyle and was an avid sports enthusiast following tennis, basketball, football and especially her beloved Roger Federer and New England Patriots. Her free and courageous spirit led her on many adventures including living in several places across the US including Colorado, Virginia, Mississippi, Kansas, Indiana, North Carolina, Nebraska, Iowa and Texas. She also loved to travel and enjoyed reminiscing about her many trips to Greece with her brother.

Mary Ruth was one of a kind, and those who knew her will be forever blessed. A special thank you to caregivers Lori Martinez, Lourdes Polar, and Karen Silerio. A Celebration of Life event will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at White Acres Retirement Community, 7304 Good Samaritan Court, El Paso, TX. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the El Paso Salvation Army, the Transitional Living Center at the YWCA, or to a charity of your choice is appreciated.