Ruth Graham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ruth Graham
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Graham (left) with her husband (right) and George W. Bush (middle) in 1983
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| Born |
Ruth McCue Bell
June 10, 1920 Qingjiang, Jiangsu, Republic of China
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| Died | June 14, 2007 (aged 87) Montreat, North Carolina, U.S.
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| Resting place | Billy Graham Library |
| Other names | Ruth Bell Graham |
| Occupation | Philanthropist, poet, author, painter |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 5, including Anne and Franklin |
| Parent(s) | L. Nelson Bell Virginia Leftwich |
Ruth McCue Bell Graham (June 10, 1920 – June 14, 2007) was an American author. She was best known as the wife of famous Christian speaker Billy Graham. Ruth was born in Qingjiang, Jiangsu, China. She was the second of five children in her family.
Her parents, Virginia Leftwich Bell and L. Nelson Bell, were medical missionaries. They worked at a Presbyterian hospital in China. When Ruth was 13, she went to high school in Pyongyang, Korea. She studied there for three years. She finished high school in Montreat, North Carolina, when her parents were visiting the U.S. Later, she graduated from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.
Ruth met Billy Graham at Wheaton College. They got married in the summer of 1943, soon after they both graduated. Ruth Graham lived most of her life in Montreat, North Carolina. The Grahams had five children: Virginia (Gigi), Anne, Ruth, Franklin, and Nelson Edman (Ned). They also had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Ruth Graham wrote many books. Some of her well-known books include Our Christmas Story, It's My Turn, and Prodigals and Those Who Love Them. She also wrote several books of poetry.
Contents
Ruth's Early Life
Ruth McCue Bell was born in Qingjiang, Jiangsu, China. Her parents, Virginia Myers (Leftwich) and Dr. L. Nelson Bell, were American medical missionaries. They worked at a Presbyterian Hospital about 300 miles north of Shanghai. Ruth grew up in China in a very religious home. Her early life in China is shared in a book about her father.
Ruth studied for three years at a high school in Pyongyang, which is now in North Korea. She then finished school in Montreat, North Carolina. This was when her parents were back in the U.S. for a short time.
Married Life and Family
Ruth came back to the U.S. when she was 17 years old in 1937. She enrolled at Wheaton College near Chicago, Illinois. This is where she met Billy Graham. They got married on August 13, 1943. In 1945, her husband became a speaker for Youth for Christ.
The Grahams moved to Montreat, close to Ruth's parents. They lived there for the rest of their married lives. Even though her husband was a famous Baptist, Ruth remained a Presbyterian. She often taught Sunday School classes.
Between 1945 and 1958, Ruth gave birth to five children. She raised them, sometimes by herself, while her husband traveled for his speaking events. All three of their daughters and two sons are involved in Christian work. Their oldest son, Franklin, now leads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. This organization was started by his father.
Ruth's Ministry and Work
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In 1959, Ruth published her first book, Our Christmas Story. It was a children's book with pictures. She went on to write or help write 13 more books. Many of these were poems she wrote to express her feelings. She wrote them while her husband was often away traveling.
Ruth was a very important part of Billy Graham's work. He often asked her for advice and ideas about his ministry. She even named one of their early radio programs, "Hour of Decision," which started in 1950. Because she grew up in China and went to high school in Korea, she cared deeply for people in Asia. She encouraged her husband to visit China. She later went with him during his important visits to the People's Republic of China.
Ruth's big role in her husband's work was honored in 1996. She and Billy Graham were given the Congressional Gold Medal. This special award was presented in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C..
Helping Others
In 1966, Ruth Graham started the Ruth and Billy Graham Children's Health Center. This center is in Asheville, North Carolina. She was very involved with it until she passed away.
Later Years and Passing
Ruth Graham had health problems since 1995. She had a serious back and neck condition that caused her pain for many years. This started after a fall in 1974. In her last months, she was mostly in bed.
The day before Ruth Graham passed away, Billy Graham shared a message. He said, "Ruth is my soul mate and best friend, and I cannot imagine living a single day without her by my side." He added that he loved her even more than when they first met.
On June 11, Ruth asked to be taken off life support. Her family agreed. On June 13, 2007, her husband announced that they had decided to be buried next to each other. Their burial place would be at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ruth Graham passed away at 5:05 p.m. EDT on June 14, 2007. She was at her home in Montreat, North Carolina. Her husband and five children were with her. She died four days after her 87th birthday.
A private ceremony and burial took place on June 17, 2007. It was held on the grounds of the Billy Graham Library. Duane Litfin, the president of Wheaton College, said about Ruth, "Strong, steady, and dauntless, Ruth Bell Graham was the glue that held many of the parts of their lives together."
See also
In Spanish: Ruth Bell Graham para niños
