Ruth Hubbard Cousins died on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007.
She was born in Waleska, Ga., on May 21, 1920, to Charles Turner Hubbard and Frances Boston Hubbard, who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her husband, James Franklin Cousins; four siblings; and her cousin, Dr. James Livingood, of Chattanooga; and a grandniece, Teresa Hand (James T.) Smith, of New Orleans.
She is survived by her daughters, Carol (Ferber) Tracy, of Chattanooga, and Joan (Alice Halstead) Cousins, of Pittsfield, Ma.; grandchildren, Lisa (John Maier) Tracy, of Oakland, Ca., Scott (Paula) Tracy, of Montrose, Co., and Jennifer (George Weld) Tracy, of Brooklyn N.Y.; eight great-grandchildren, Kali, Sarah, Spencer and Tanner, Luke, Zach and Eliza Maier and M’Lou Weld; and one sister, Mary Jo Hand, of Panama Beach, Fl.
Ruth grew up in Tifton, Ga. She attended City College of New York. She met and married her husband at Grace Methodist Church, Park Avenue. She earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees in psychology at George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
For 33 years, Ruth was executive director of Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology. She co-founded and was honorary member of Psi Beta, the national honor society in psychology for two-year colleges. Ruth moved Psi Chi’s national office to Chattanooga in the late 1980s.
The American Psychological Association acknowledged Ruth’s significant contributions to psychology by awarding her APA’s first lifetime membership. APA and Psi Chi are the two largest psychology organizations in the world. She was one of the first women to gain entry into the National Press Club and to serve on the board of the American Society of Association Executives. She was active in many other organizations, including Daughters of the American Revolution, Nancy Ward Chapter.
Ruth was fascinated by family and American history. Because her husband served in the Navy in the South Pacific during World War II, she had a special respect for veterans. After retiring, Ruth interviewed 52 World War II veterans for the Chattanooga Area Historical Association (CAHA). Copies of these oral histories are in the Chattanooga Historical Museum, Chattanooga Bicentennial Library and the Library of Congress. For this work, Ruth received four citations from: Military Order of the Purple Heart, city of Chattanooga, her DAR chapter and the CAHA.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday at First-Centenary United Methodist Church.
The family will receive visitors from 2-3 p.m. in the narthex preceding the service with the Rev. David Harr and Nell Mohney officiating.
Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 5 in Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Southeast Tennessee Chapter Alzheimer’s Association, 735 Broad St., Suite 300, Chattanooga 37402.
Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home.