Ruth J. Colvin
In Memoriam
Ruth founded Literacy Volunteers of America in 1962, which later merged with Laubach Literacy to become ProLiteracy in 2002. Ruth passed away in August 2024 at age 107.
She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006, the nation’s highest civilian award. She was also inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the US President’s National Volunteer Action Award in 1987. She is the author of Tutor 8th edition, READ, I Speak English 5th edition, A Way with Words, In the Beginning Was the Word, and My Travels Through Life, Love, and Literacy. She received a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and nine honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees.
1916–2024