Hand-drawn portrait of Ruth
By Linda Shomo
Ruth Linger Bell was a Rosie the Riveter during WWII. She was one incredible lady. She was born in Vandalia, Lewis County, WV on December 3, 1908 and graduated from Tygart Valley High school in 1924. Ruth received her Masters degree from D&E and continued her graduate work at both Columbia University and Cornell University.
During WWII Ruth worked with the Federal/State government by placing families in homestead housing in the Valley Bend, WV area. The Tygart Valley Homestead was the third and largest of three "resettlement communities" in West Virginia designed to provide housing and employment to out-of-work families during the Great Depression. The homesteads were one of several infrastructure projects in our region enacted during the New Deal, and were enthusiastically supported by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt who visited the homesteaders in Tygart Valley and Arthurdale many times over the years.
Tygart Valley Homestead (Library of Congress)
During WWII Ruth also taught math at St. Mary's in Parkersburg, WV. After the war she became a teacher and taught math at Mill Creek High school. Ruth was on the board of Directors at the Mill Creek Bank. She served as a member of the Women's International Cattle Association. She was past President of Elkins Business and Professional Women’s Club. Ruth was also the treasurer for the International Farm Bureau and authored a book for the organization. She served on the Commission for the Corridor-H road project up until her death.
Her passing in 1979 was a great loss to her family, friends and the entire community. She was definitely one of the Great Ones who will forever truly be missed.
