Ruth Carlin

Ruth Weiss Carlin, age 82, of Tuscaloosa, died Nov. 25, 2011, at Hospice of West Alabama. Graveside services will be 1 p.m. Sunday at Evergreen City Cemetery with Rabbi Steven Jacobs officiating and Heritage Chapel Funeral Home & Cremations, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Lydia Weiss; her daughter, Joan Carlin Schwartz Spaw; and her son-in-law, Stefan Schwartz.

Survivors include her husband of 57 years, Elmer Carlin; her daughter, Sandy Carlin Guin (Jim); son-in-law, David Spaw; grandsons, Nathan Guin and Noah Schwartz; and granddaughters, Erin Reck and Sonia Spaw.

Mrs. Carlin was born on August 24, 1929, in Passaic, New Jersey. She graduated from Jersey City State College and Medical Center in 1951 with her RN and Bachelor of Science degree. She worked at Beth Israel Hospital in Passaic, N.J. for many years and was the Head Nurse of the Emergency Room. After moving to Atlanta, Georgia, Mrs. Carlin worked at Shallowford Hospital and then for the Diabetes Association of Atlanta providing home health care.

Mrs. Carlin volunteered at the Verner Elementary School Library in Tuscaloosa for almost 15 years, where she was fondly know by teachers and students as “Miss Ruth.” Mrs. Carlin also served as a co-president of the Temple Emmanuel Sisterhood and on the Board of Directors of Caring Days in Tuscaloosa.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Caring Days in Tuscaloosa, Hospice of West Alabama, or the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Joan Carlin Schwartz Spaw Endowed Fund for KIWI (Kids Inquire, We Inform).