Dr. Ruth J Huber

Dr. Ruth Jane Huber, 81, passed away from natural causes on January 23, 2018. Ruth was born on March 6, 1936 to Mark and Sadie Ballard, and had one brother, James (Jim), all of whom preceded her in death.
Ruth grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, graduating from Webster High School, eventually settling in Tulsa with her husband, Don and four children, Teri, Jackie, Joe and Mark. Ruth was an accomplished seamstress, was the church organist/pianist, operated a cosmetics business from home, and worked as a secretary. She was the primary care taker for her mother, enabling Sadie to die at home. That experience led Ruth to her career in Social Work.
Ruth found very little information or support to help fulfill her mother’s wish to die at home, so she decided to contribute to the field of hospice, which required additional education. Ruth graduated Suma cum laude with a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Oklahoma, and earned her doctorate degree at the University of Washington. She worked with colleagues to establish the first national hospice database, and conducted key research that contributed to the robust level of hospice support depended upon today by millions of Americans. Ruth completed her career as a professor for the Kent School of Social Work at Louisville, Kentucky.
Upon Ruth’s retirement, she and Don moved to Missoula, Montana where they shared a home with their son, Mark, and his family. Ruth was a vital part of the community, and will be missed by many. She is preceded in death by her son Joe and survived by her daughters Teri and Jackie, son Mark and his wife Dawn, their children, Jessalynn, Caleb and Audrey, and one great- grandson, Henry.
Services will be held Saturday, January 27, at City Life Community Center in Missoula, Montana at 11 a.m. Condolences may be left at www.gardencityfh.com
Memorial donations can be sent to:
Ruth Huber Ph.D. Student Support Fund at the University of Louisville, Kent School of Social Work
Payable to:
University of Louisville Foundation; Reference E1880
University of Louisville
Kent School of Social Work
Louisville, KY 40292