Ruth Lynn Prager

Ruth’s outgoing personality, humor, generosity, and amazing ability to remember names and faces earned her many lifelong friends. She loved attending the events of family and friends with her laugh being one of the most recognizable sounds at any gathering. If she couldn’t make an event, she was sorely missed.

Traveling and meeting new people was a common theme throughout her life. She journeyed alone from Texas to Alaska and back to Florida, across South Africa, and had trips to Europe. Fearless and adventurous, she eagerly explored unfamiliar places and embraced new experiences, even when that included getting pick pocketed in London and dealing with a stolen passport. She took it all in stride and found a way to seek assistance with a smile on her face. Everywhere she went she made new friends and stayed in contact with many of them for years. She was teased that she never met a stranger.

Ruth’s occupations were as varied as her social interests. She had a Bachelors in Hotel Restaurant Administration, worked as an accounting systems analyst, traded stocks, owned an art gallery with over 20 artists, had a pottery studio, and sold her pottery in her gallery as well as in many shops on St Thomas and St John. When Ruth moved to St Thomas USVI she quickly became a fixture in the waterfront retail district where she donated time and effort to help the downtown renovation society. Ruth was the president of a condo association where she successfully oversaw an expansive renovation project and righted their finances. Ruth also filled in as office manager for Mark’s construction company.

Ruth’s generosity knew no bounds. She organized relief efforts in Miami after hurricane Andrew, and again on St Thomas after hurricanes Irma and Maria. Ruth donated thousands of hours of her time to local humanitarian efforts as well as national and international causes. She quietly gave money to family and friends in need. She even volunteered at a hospice facility to be of service to patients and their families at their most vulnerable time, providing them an extra shoulder of empathy and strength to lean upon.

Ruth was smart as a whip in both her humor and brain power. If she did not know or understand something, she figured it out. Her value system reflected a person of great character with a strong sense of right a wrong. While she steadfastly held herself to account, she was generous with others and understanding of the human condition. The world has lost a truly loving human being.

Ruth leaves behind her husband Mark Thompson, mother Sheila Prager, brother Michael Prager, sister Laurie Prager, niece Hannah Rickert, and a bevy of beloved relatives and friends. Her legacy of kindness and devotion will continue in the lives of all who loved her.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made in Ruth's honor to the American Red Cross. https://www.redcross.org/donate/memorial-donations.html/