Ruth Lewis

Ruth was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on November 7, 1922 to parents Victoria Eva Alisauskas and Stanley Purvinskas. She was first generation Lithuanian and remembered a trip to Lithuania as a very young girl. Ruth’s father was a strong proponent of women’s education. He encouraged her academics in high school and supported her desire to attend college. Ruth was an excellent student and graduated from Simmons College (1946) in Boston as a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science degree in affiliation with the US Cadet Nurse Corps Program. She later received a Master’s degree from the University of Missouri in Kansas City.

Ruth was very proud of having been a registered nurse for over 50 years. Ruth’s nursing career began at Massachusetts Memorial Hospital in Boston and later included Denver Children's Hospital, Western Missouri Mental Health Center in Kansas City, the American Nurses Association and the Missouri Department of Mental Health. She specialized in psychiatric mental health, serving as an instructor, director of nursing and consultant. Ruth was a consultant and surveyor for the Health Care Financing Administration. She was a consultant to the Joint Commission on Accreditation for Hospitals and to the American Medical Association. When St. Joseph State Hospital lost their accreditation, Ruth was selected to be superintendent; the first woman to be superintendent of a major mental health hospital in Missouri. In 3 years, she brought about significant reforms in patient treatment resulting in re-accreditation of the hospital. Ruth travelled widely in her professional RN role as part of surveying teams and as an invited speaker, both in the U.S. and internationally. She wrote journal articles and contributed chapters to books in her field. Ruth was widely recognized in her field. She served on The President’s Commission on Mental Health in 1978 and received a White House letter of commendation for her contributions.

She also had a very successful marriage of 70 years to Jerry Lewis, whom she met while he was stationed as a Marine on Prudence Island after his combat service in WWII. They returned to his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, raising their 3 children in Raytown and then later retiring to Raymore. Ruth became part of Jerry’s family of 7 siblings and their spouses and children. Her mother Victoria Purvinskas joined the family when she became a widow. Jerry and Ruth had a wonderful relationship. Ruth was attentive to details for parties and enjoyed the role of the hostess while Jerry provided a dry sense of humor that kept the atmosphere fun and light. Ruth always showed interest in and concern for the lives of family members and her friends.

There are many fond memories of Lewis family get-togethers, family vacations, gatherings with work friends and companionship with neighbors. She loved a good conversation. Ruth especially looked forward to the holidays. She was an avid reader of mystery and spy novels and other literature. Ruth and Jerry were well known in the Raymore community and were frequently seen at many of the restaurants.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Jerry (2019) and her daughter Nancy (2021). She leaves children Carolyn (Klaus) and Gary (Mary) and son-in-law Peter. She also leaves behind grandchildren Andy, Matthew (Allison), Margret (Duncan), and Danja and great grandsons Casey and Carter. There are many nephews, nieces, extended family members, friends and neighbors.

There were many chapters to Ruth’s life and she made friends in all of them. She will be greatly missed.