Ruth Warren Holleman

Ruth Holleman, 86, died in her home on Monday, May 16. She was born June 10, 1924 in Sampson County, NC, the sixth child of Ila Lee and Malcomb Warren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Holleman.

A graduate of Westbrook High School, Mary Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing, and the Nurse Anesthesia Program, Bowman Gray School of Medicine/North Carolina Baptist Hospital. Ruth served as chair of Rex Hospital’s Department of Anesthesia and later as nurse anesthetist for Dorothea Dix Hospital. She also provided volunteer anesthesia services for St. Agnes Hospital, Central Prison, and Butner Hospital.

Ruth provided leadership and service in many civic, cultural, and church activities. While Chair of the Wake County Library Commission (1994-2004), the county constructed eight new libraries, renovated three others, put bookmobiles back in service for children with limited access to libraries, upgraded to computerized cataloguing, installed personal computers for the public, and established the audio book collection.

Ruth served as President of the Democratic Women of Wake County, the Apex Women’s Club, and the PTA, and as Director of the North Carolina University Women’s Club Foreign Student English Conversation program. She served as a docent for the North Carolina Museum of Art and on the boards of Wake County Legal Aid, Wake County Historical Society, Friends of the College, and Raleigh Boys Choir. She was a long-time Sunday school teacher and Cub Scout Den Mother.

Ruth was a pioneer for women, creating a path for those seeking careers and positions of leadership.

Ruth is survived by her son Toby, his wife Connie, and their sons Blake and Aaron, and by her son Warren, his wife Marsha, and their daughter Annie and son Tom. She is also survived by her sister Frances Dunn, and sisters-in-law Hilda Warren, Rometta Warren, and Clorine Holleman Marsh.

Visitation will be Thursday, May 19, 6-8pm, at Apex United Methodist Church. A memorial service will be on Friday, May 20, 11am, also at Apex UMC.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her memory to Wake County Public Library Fund, c/o 1930 Clark Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27605 or the Ruth Warren Holleman Scholarship Fund, Nurse Anesthesia Program, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1021.