Ruth Helen Washington (nee Wilson) was born in Sumter, South Carolina on June 29, 1925. She was the only girl of four children born to Catherine Francis Wilson and Willie Wilson. After the death of her mother, Helen was brought to Philadel- phia at the age of three and was raised by her surrogate parents, her maternal aunt Louise Francis Dow and her uncle, Joseph B. Dow. She has credited them for pointing her in the direction of a goal-oriented life. She always felt that without them, she would never have succeeded.
Helen attended and graduated from West Philadelphia High School at 16 years of age in 1942. She graduated from Morgan State College with honors in 1946, where she earned a B.S. in Biology. Her graduate studies were completed at Howard Uni- versity, earning an M.S. in Zoology in 1948. She was then hired as an Assistant Professor of Biology at Delaware State College (now Delaware State University) and worked there from 1948 to 1961. It was there that she met and married her late, former husband, (Dr.) Ulysses S. Washington, Jr. in 1951. They were blessed by the births of their two children, Diane and “Ukee.” In 1962, she was drawn to teaching at the secondary level in the School District of Philadelphia where she continued her ca- reer in education as a secondary school biology teacher at West Philadelphia High School. Her reputation in the science depart- ment led her to be listed in Outstanding Secondary Teachers of America and, in 1969, becoming the first African American to be named as an Outstanding Science Teacher in the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania. Having received numerous outstanding teaching awards and certificates of appreciation throughout her career, Helen retired from the School District of Philadelphia in 1985. A scholarship award donation was given in her honor by the WPHS Class of ‘73 in 2011.
Helen was baptized at Shiloh Baptist Church where she was a member from 1928 to 1951. After her marriage in 1951, she became a member of Whatcoat United Methodist Church in Do- ver, Delaware where she involved her children in church activ- ities and where she sang on the senior choir and taught Sunday school. After moving back to Philadelphia in 1962, she joined Camphor Memorial Methodist Church and remained active un- til joining Pinn Memorial Baptist in 1996. Her membership was transferred to Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh in 2019.
As a devoted member and “Delta Dear” of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated Helen was recognized for her seventy years of service in her sorority by the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter in 2014 – maintaining her membership for over 80 years. She was honored in 2005 as a 1955 charter member of Epsilon Kappa Sigma Chapter (Dover Alumnae Chapter), serv- ing as their first president. Her foresight, commitment, dedi- cation, and love for her sorority continued to flourish through the establishment of the Ruth Helen Washington Scholarship Award in 2014 which provided financial aid to qualifying fresh- men at DSU who demonstrated financial need.
Helen had a great love for music and was very involved in the creative and performing arts. She was very gifted at drawing. Along with other many creative designs, she hand designed the graphics on covers of several programs for sorority events while on staff at Delaware State College. Helen also had a beautiful soprano voice and sang on several choirs. She played the piano, accompanying the Glee Club while in high school and played for her church. She directed and accompanied a children’s choir at Camphor United Methodist Church. Helen occasionally per- formed in modern dance programs during her time at DSC and eventually became the founding creative director of a West In- dian Dance group at West Philadelphia High School while on faculty there.
Helen was an avid bridge player and continued to be active with several organizations until her health did not permit her to be as mobile as she had been in the past. She belonged to various community and civic organizations: The Educational Equality League, Black Political Forum, NAACP, Twigs Mother’s Club, Inc., National Association of Phi Delta Kappa, (established) The Mercy Douglas Humanities Love Awards Foundation, Teachers Concerned and an Ecumenical Council group, just to name a few. Helen also received copyrights for two scientific models that she created and has been published in The Science Teacher and The Journal of African Civilizations. She was the creator and founder of a non-profit organization with the goal of pro-viding scholarships to gifted, needy youth in the Philadelphia School District. She was honored at the 4th Annual “Honoring Our Elders and Men & Women of Struggle” in January of 2009. As are result of being presented with this award, she received commendations from the City Council of Philadelphia, Sena- tor Shirley Kitchen and John Myers, member of the House of Representatives. In 2019, Helen received recognition from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History for her efforts, along with those efforts of other members, in maintaining the establishment of their Philadelphia branch.
After a fall in 2018 which broke her hip and left her requiring 24/7 care, Helen moved to Pittsburgh and became a resident of Vincentian de Marillac Skilled Nursing Facility where she received expert, loving care from the aides, nurses, and her doctor on staff. Only two minutes from her daughter’s home, she was affectionately known at Vincentian as “Grandma” as well as Ruth, Ms. Ruth, and Mrs. Washington. During her time there, Helen was an active participant in the activities and spe- cial events that where held at the facility. She even encouraged the creation of a resident choir which practiced twice a month. Even at the start of the COVID-19 nursing home restrictions beginning in March of 2020, Helen remained uplifted and en- couraged – maintaining her trust in God all throughout the pan- demic as she continued to stay in constant contact with friends and family via audio and video phone calls until the resump- tion of in-person visits. In March of 2023, Vincentian de Maril- lac closed and Ruth was transferred to Vincentian Home in N. Hills. On September 22, 2023, Helen was awarded a plaque as the West Philadelphia High School Class of 1973 Honoree and received a citation from State Senator Vincent J. Hughes.
Helen was an unselfish woman of convictions and integrity. She was a Christian and she loved God. Throughout her life, she made a conscious effort to live the life of purpose that God would have her to live. She put God ahead of everything that she did and trusted Him and His perfect will. She had a quick wit and a refreshing sense of humor. She also had a profound sense of pride in and dedication to her people and gave all that she could of her time, her wisdom, her talents, and her finances to encourage and support the African-American community and those causes and commitments that she held dear. She was an
A one time viewing will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2024 from 6-8p.m. at Rose Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 10940 Frankstown Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235. Celebration of Life services will be held on Monday, May 20, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh, 2225 Bedford Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Donations may be made to the Ruth Helen Washington Scholarship at www.desu.edu/giving/give-now or donations can be mailed with reference to Ruth Helen Washington Scholarship or account #7040 to the following address:
Delaware State University Foundation, Inc, 1200 N. Dupont Hwy., 2nd floor Admin Bldg, Dover, DE 19901