Emma Ruth Booth

Of Springfield, on December 7, at the age of 93. Beloved wife of the late Philip P. Booth; dear sister of Mary Lou Kempel (John) McHugh and sister-in-law of Ethel Kempel. Preceded in death by brothers Norman Kempel, Richard (Margaret) Kempel and David (Teresa) Kempel. Also preceded in death by nephews Michael Kempel and Michael McHugh and nieces Rita McHugh Gibbons, Barbara A. Colomb, and Phyllis Y. Schierenbeck. Surviving nieces and nephews are Tom Yahraes of Nine Mile Falls, WA, Karen Newshutz Stilwill of Cleveland Heights, OH, Christine Rees of Uppingham, England, Kathy Kempel Burkle of Norfolk, MA, Margaret Kempel of Dania, FL, John Kempel of Northbrook, IL, William Kempel of N. Palm Beach, FL, Dennis Kempel of San Jose, CA, Steve Kempel of Victoria, TX, Kathleen Kempel Beder of Leonardtown, MD and Kevin Kempel of Potomac, MD. She also has many great nieces and great nephews.

Ruth was one of the first and original members of the National Security Council staff when it was first created in 1947 by President Truman. Her NSC and White House records management career spanned more than 40 years in both the pre-computer and computer eras from the Truman to the Reagan administrations. She was a dedicated Records Custodian working in the White House Situation Room and later in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Ruth personally filed, maintained and retrieved the National Security Presidential and NSC records for 4 decades.

She was an original member of NSC Secretariat staff. She was a respected, well-liked, dedicated and tireless civil servant and was both the "office Mother" and mentor to younger and newer Secretariat staff members.

Ruth was loved, respected and admired by all who knew her.

She was a resident of Greenspring Village for many years and will be missed.

Friends welcome on Monday, December 14 from 10-11 am at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, where a Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow at 11 am. Interment to follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Clinton, MD.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Greenspring Hospice, 7410 Spring Village Drive, Springfield, VA 22150 MEMO: Ruth Booth.