Ruth Strong

1924 - 2019

Ruth Strong

Beach Haven - Ruth M. Strong, 95, of Beach Haven, New Jersey died peacefully and entered into eternal life on February 1, 2019.

Ruth was born in Richmond Hill, Queens, New York City on January 7, 1924, to the late Harry and Mae Lockwood. She was raised in Richmond Hill, Queens and graduated from Richmond Hill High School in 1942. Ruth was a devoted mother, grandmother, wife, and good friend. She was an exquisite cook and hostess. Ruth's parties were frequent and legendary. Her sharp wit and banter kept everyone entertained. She had many interests and was a wonderful, and occasionally argumentative, conversationalist. Ruth Strong was a trailblazing woman in business. After being a housewife for 15 years, she started a sales career in the early 1960s for the Ferry-Morse Seed Company calling on supermarkets and other retailers maintaining the seed displays. She was one of the first female sales representatives for both Mattel, Inc. and Fisher-Price, two of the leading toy companies in the world. Ruth was well known and had many friends in the toy industry. She loved New York and trips to the city for Toy Fair, the annual industry show. She often hosted family and friends during these two-week shows to the delight of all. She was a sales woman par excellence and her customers were devoted to her.

Ruth was a beach lover all her life. She bought a house in Beach Haven in 1973, retired in 1990, and became a permanent resident of Beach Haven at that time. Ruth was a grande dame in Beach Haven, with many friends of all ages and types and a very active social life. She kept up with local politics and was deeply engaged in life in Beach Haven. She was an avid reader, loved history and literature. She served on the Library Board of Trustees for the Beach Haven Free Public Library and was a great friend to the library for decades. Ruth had a love for show business, her aunt was a famous vaudevillian star, and she thoroughly enjoyed her role hosting the summer CAP concerts in the Beach Haven Park on Wednesday nights. Ruth was an opera aficionado and frequent listener of radio broadcasts of Metropolitan Opera House Saturday afternoon concerts and occasional attendee. She also was a great fan of musicals and all types of music from classical to rhythm and blues. She was a great patron of museums and took her children and grandchildren to all the great museums in New York City. Ruth had a great sense of style in her both appearance and home decor. Her distinctive red hair accentuated her attractive appearance and symbolized her dynamic and passionate personality. She was a force of nature. She will be greatly missed and warmly remembered.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis Strong and her sister Virginia O'Connor. She is survived by her sons Jeff Strong, Beach Haven, New Jersey, Jimmy Strong, Turlock Calif; four grandchildren, Alicia Dorman (Michael), Lakewood, Calif.; Nick Strong and Maggie Strong, Turlock, Calif.; and Chris Strong, San Diego, Calif.

A memorial service will be held at The Episcopal Church of The Holy Innocents, Marine Street, Beach Haven, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 23, 2019, with a luncheon to follow at the Engleside Inn, 30 Engleside Avenue, Beach Haven, New Jersey.