Ruth Grams

VENTURA, Calif. - Ruth Grams, 97, a former resident of Downey and Whittier, passed away Saturday, May 22, 2004, in Ventura, where she had been living for several years. Ruth was born in East Bend, N.C., to J. Kenneth Pfohl, a bishop in the Moravian Church, and Bessie Whittington Pfohl. Being surrounded by a musical family, Ruth began studying harp at an early age and soon joined her parents and siblings in the Pfohl Family Orchestra. Following graduation from Salem Academy and Salem College, Ruth continued her musical education at Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she studied harp with the celebrated harpist, Carlos Salzedo and was a member of the Curtis Harp Ensemble. At this time, she also taught music at the Moravian Preparatory School in Bethlehem, Pa. While doing graduate work in music at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, she started the harp department at that university. In 1935, Ruth married Roy Grams, a Moravian minister and helped him serve parishes in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., Bethlehem, Pa., and Dover, Ohio. In 1958, Dr. Grams accepted a call to serve in the Downey (Calif.) Moravian Church, beginning a new chapter in Ruth's life. After Dr. Grams succumbed to cancer in 1961, Ruth attended graduate school at the University of Southern California and was awarded a master's degree in library science. She became children's librarian at Santa Fe Springs Public Library and several years later became head librarian, serving until her retirement in 1975. The city of Santa Fe Springs awarded Mrs. Grams their Citizen of the Year Award in 1971. After Mrs. Grams retired,she became artist-in-residence at Whittier College, teaching harp students at her home in Whittier and playing in concerts. She is best known in the Downey-Whittier area as a harpist for all occasions, performing at weddings, funerals and civic events on her concert harp. One of her greatest joys was when Ruth took her Irish harp into public schools to introduce children to the celestial-sounding instrument. She was an active member of many community and national service organizations and received numerous awards throughout her life. In Dover, Ohio, Dr. and Mrs. Grams were jointly awarded the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the year award in 1957. Ruth was preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters. She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law Ruth and James Uphold of Ventura and Martha and Kenneth Williams of Calexico; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren, two of whom are fraternal twins, born on the day Mrs. Grams departed this life. She has numerous nieces and nephews throughout the Eastern seaboard, Phoenix, Ariz., and New Orleans, La. A memorial service to celebrate Ruth's life will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 3, at Downey Moravian Church, 10337 Old River School Road, Downey, CA.