Ruth Elenor Hirsch

Ruth Elenor Hirsch, née Dunning, age 97, passed away on March 10, 2022 at the Christian Care Center of Mesquite, Texas. A life long resident of Dallas, Texas, she was born November 30, 1924 to Howard and Mary Elenor Dunning in Newcastle, Oklahoma and raised on her father’s dairy farm. She graduated Newcastle High School early and then attended the University of Oklahoma, receiving a degree in Home Economics. While attending OU, she met her future husband Otto in Norman, Oklahoma as he was stationed in Norman due to his service in the US Navy. Ruth married Otto William Hirsch on June 22, 1945 in a practice home where she was living on campus. They moved to San Diego, CA for a short time as Otto continued in the US Navy but then settled in Dallas, Texas in 1948, halfway between her home of Newcastle and his of Huffsmith, Texas, near Houston. Their first house was on Darby Dr. on the east side of Dallas and they later moved to Blanton St. nearby. She worked for a time as a kindergarten teacher at the La Reunion school in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas before becoming a full time mom. They had three children: David, James and Elenor. Ruth eventually returned to work outside the home, working for Sanger Harris and 25 years for Weight Watchers. She and Bill (as he was known at church) were long time members of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in Dallas and Mom taught Sunday School for many years. She served on many boards, committees, visited shut-ins and considered her work in the church her greatest passion. She and Bill also volunteered many hours at White Rock Center of Hope in Dallas. They were married for over 70 years before he passed in 2016 at the age of 94. They loved to travel in their travel trailer all over the country and belonged to a camping club, WeWannaGo. She will be remembered as a great cook, a kind and gentle spirit, with an ever optimistic view, a clever wit, and a spritely sense of humor.

She is survived by her son David Hirsch and wife Beverly of Dallas and their daughter Jennifer Hirsch;

By her son James Hirsch and wife Karen of Forney, Texas and their children Shannon Aycock (and husband Mike Aycock and their children Will and Emmy), Tim Rhys (and wife Sara Rhys and their children Kaleb, Azeret and J. J.) and Chelsea Conrad (and her husband Josh Conrad and their children Jack and Sadie);

By her daughter Elenor Mason and husband Porter Mason of Royse City, Texas and their children Lauren Lamp (and husband Zack Lamp and their children Holland and Levi) and Kelli Mason;

And by her brother Roy Dunning of Newcastle, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the White Rock Center of Hope, in Dallas, in her name.