Ruth Esther Harvey, 92, Summered in Oak Bluffs

Ruth Esther Harvey died on April 16 at Mariner Health in Silver Spring, Md., after a lengthy illness. She was born in Angrilla, Miss., on Nov. 3, 1910, the youngest of seven children born to the late Thomas and Mary Scott Harvey. She was predeceased by all six of her siblings.

Ruth attended the Sharkey County public schools, in which both her parents were teachers. She later received her bachelor's degree from Howard University in 1939 and her master's degree in social work from Catholic University of America in 1943.

During her 35 years as a psychiatric social worker, she had a positive effect on the lives of many families and individuals. In her early professional life, she was employed at two mental health facilities in Brooklyn, N.Y., the Brooklyn Jewish Hospital and the Veterans Administration Mental Health Clinic. From 1955 to 1961, she served as a supervisor at the Institute for Juvenile Research in Chicago, Ill. Later she held the position of staff supervisor and community health specialist at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, D.C., from which she retired in 1982.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Ruth participated in a myriad civic and social activities. Spirited, engaging and creative, she delighted in her many pastimes, particularly clothing design, gardening, cooking and entertaining. some of these hobbies were pursued on Martha's Vineyard, where she had spent almost all her summers since the 1960s. She was a member of the Cottagers for many years, and produced many designs for that organization's annual fashion shows.

She will be remembered with abiding love and many cherished memories by her niece, Charlie R. Harvey; her nephew, Sterling A. Harvey' her grand-niece, Kathy A. Harvey, and numerous friends and extended family.

A memorial service was held on May 7 in Maryland.