Ruth Helen Herbolsheimer

Ruth Helen Herbolsheimer (née Roque), aged 101 and born June 5, 1924, in Portsmouth, Virginia, passed away in Sicklerville, New Jersey, leaving behind a remarkable legacy and a spirit that touched all who knew her.

The daughter of Marciano and Helen (Clarke) Roque, Ruth and her family relocated to Manila, Philippines, in 1931. Her formative years unfolded against the backdrop of global upheaval. During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines from 1941 to 1945, the family's American citizenship was concealed. Even in those perilous years, she demonstrated extraordinary bravery, carrying covert correspondence for the Filipino Resistance Army through Japanese-controlled areas.

Ruth graduated from the Philippine Women's University in 1944. After the liberation of Manila, she and her family returned to the United States, where she enlisted in the U.S. Army Women's Army Corps in June 1945. A proud World War II veteran, she served stateside as a medical laboratory technician with the 9957th Technical Unit, WAC Detachment, rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. She completed her military service in 1948 and went on to build a distinguished 50-year career as a laboratory technologist.

Ruth's life was rich with adventure, curiosity, and connection. She loved to travel and cherished the many vacations and cruises she shared with her best friend, her sister, and her daughter, both across the United States and abroad. Her final voyage- a transatlantic crossing in 2024- was a testament to her enduring spirit. A gifted athlete, she excelled in racquet sports and skiing, and in her later years found joy and community at her local fitness gym. Her post-workout coffee gatherings at Dunkin' Donuts became a beloved ritual with her gym buddies, who meant so much to her.

In 2025, Ruth was interviewed for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, ensuring that her extraordinary story will be preserved for generations. She was honored with the Military Service Medal by the Camden County Board of Commissioners and received a Living Legend Proclamation from the Military Women's Memorial Foundation in Arlington. A dedicated participant in the University of Pennsylvania Memory Program, she left a final, profound gift by donating her brain to research.

Ruth is survived by her best friend and companion of 33 years, Patricia Hirsekorn; son, David Herbolsheimer; daughter, Kathleen Saylor (Herbolsheimer); grandson, Matthew Saylor, Patricia's sons, Andrew and Christopher Hirsekorn; sister, Rita Roque; and many beloved Roque nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Richard, Robert, and Ronald Roque; grandson, Reed Herbolsheimer; and former husband, William Herbolsheimer.

Her life was an extraordinary journey-marked by resilience, service, intellect, and a boundless love for the world and the people in it. She inspired all who knew her, and her story will continue to do so for years to come.

A gathering to celebrate her life will take place at a later date.