Ruth M. Needle

September 16, 1922 - May 31, 2025 Long-time Santa Monica resident Ruth Needle died peacefully at the age of 102. She leaves behind sons, Andrew and Josh, daughter-in-law Michelle, and two grandsons, Jared and Mark.

Born and raised in New York's Washington Heights neighborhood, Ruth proudly served in the Navy's WAVES Corps during World War Two, mostly in the District of Columbia. After being Honorably Discharged in 1946 she moved to Los Angeles and lived a full and fulfilling life.

Ruth worked for decades in the apparel industry, both retail and wholesale, but it was in her artistic endeavors that she truly shined, exploring everything from painting and metal sculpture to macrame and jewelry, eventually teaching the later two arts at several community colleges throughout the Westside for over twenty years. After she retired, in her eighties, she continued to volunteer as a docent at the Main Santa Monica Library. She was a lifelong student as well, including participating in the SMC Emeritus writing courses where she published numerous short stories about her long life.

Ruth was an avid traveler, visiting everywhere from China, India and Japan to Israel, Jordon and Egypt, as well as much of the English-speaking world and Europe. Well into her '90s she enjoyed participating in Road Scholar's programs closer to home in the United States.

Ruth amazed one and all by easily living on her own in her Santa Monica apartment of 40+ years until she was close to 100 years old, when physical impairments compelled her to move to a nearby assisted living residence and, finally, at 101 into a memory care facility in the same area.

Family services will be held on Friday June 6 at 10:00 a.m. at Hillside Memorial in Culver City. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation in Ruth's name to your favorite charity.