Ruth lost her eyesight while in high school and endured many additional physical challenges with grace and great fortitude. She will be remembered for her many achievements including a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Northern Colorado University, a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Illinois State University, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
While living in Lincoln with her son Tony, Ruth met her future husband, Jim Sohl, who had volunteered to be a “reader” for her. They were married in 1985 and were together for 39 years. The couple relocated to Chandler, AZ, and Ruth worked for Community Legal Services before opening a private family law practice in 2000. Together with Jim as her paralegal, Ruth’s firm specialized in aiding victims of domestic violence.
Ruth was also a life-long advocate for the blind working through the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and serving several terms as president of their AZ affiliate.
She worked tirelessly for her causes always stressing that her achievements were the product of someone who worked hard for what she believed and who, in her words, “happened to be blind.”
Faith was an essential component of Ruth’s life and she came to embrace the Baha’i Faith as a teenager. Her example and convictions led several other family members to do the same. Ruth also loved offering hospitality to family and friends, reading a good mystery and sparking a good debate!
Ruth is survived by her husband Jim Sohl, her son and daughter-in-law Tony and Tina Sohl, brothers Steve and Rick (Dana) Swenson, sister Barbara Swenson Goodwin (Michael), plus nieces and nephews.
A graveside ceremony for Ruth will be held Monday, July 29, 2024 at 9:00 AM at Valley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery, 10940 East Chandler Heights Rd, Chandler, AZ 85248. A memorial prayer service following Ruth's graveside ceremony will occur indoors at 9:30 AM in the Sunbird Room at Valley of the Sun Mortuary.
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