Ruth Silberman

Ruth Silberman
Raleigh
Ruth Silberman, a former interior decorator and performing arts presenter, died Saturday in Raleigh. She was 92.
Ruth was born in rural Ohio, the third oldest of seven children of Carrie and Howard Rapp. She attended the University of Cincinnati, moved to Chicago during World War II and married a young journalist, Lee Silberman, who had served as a captain in the Army. The young couple moved to Wichita, Kansas, then east to his home state of New Jersey, where they raised three sons.
Ruth returned to school after her children reached school age, training at the New York School of Interior Design in Manhattan. She worked many years as a self-employed interior decorator in her adopted hometown of Morristown, N.J., and surrounding communities.
From the late 1970s into the 1990s, she helped revive a local performing arts organization active in the early 20th century, The Friday Evening Club, and was successful in presenting a long list of well-known musicians, including Yo Yo Ma, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Wynton Marsalis, The Chieftains and Judy Collins. The organization was recognized by the White House for its contribution to the local arts community and for its efforts to make the arts accessible to the disabled.
Ruth and Lee moved to Clayton in the late 1990s to be closer to their son in Raleigh, their two grandsons and later, a granddaughter. They were members of First Baptist Church of Clayton. She continued to apply her talent in interior design well into her 70s, working for a short time at the former National Art Interiors in downtown Raleigh.
Following the death in 2009 of her husband of 61 years, Ruth moved to Raleigh, where she lived the last few years within a few blocks of her youngest son.
The family is deeply appreciative of the caring staff of Morningside Assisted Living, where Ruth made her final home, and especially thankful for the warmth and support of Johnnie Blow and Renetta Carroll.
Ruth is survived by her three sons, Richard and his wife, Nancy, of South Lyon, Mich., Gregory, of Santa Clarita, Calif, Todd and his wife, Kristin Collins, of Raleigh, and eight grandchildren. The family is planning a private memorial service. Condolences can be left at legacy.com