Ruth Smith Flanagan passed away at home with her loving family September 29, 2007 after a courageous fight with lung cancer. Born in 1935 in Buffalo, New York, Ruth spent her early years in San Marino, California and graduated from South Pasadena/San Marino High School in 1953. Ruth went on to graduate from Stanford University with Honors in 1957. After raising three children and actively volunteering for multiple causes, Ruth returned to school at night and in 1979 she earned her MBA from Santa Clara University.

The next phase of her active life was spent working as a finance manager with IBM. Ruth enjoyed working at IBM until her retirement in 1991. Ruth and her husband Ray were happily married for over 35 years. She was a role model, confidante, and friend as the mother to her three children. Ruth was always an active volunteer and loyal friend. She loved playing golf and traveling, especially to the theatre in New York and to the Oregon Shakespeare festival in Ashland, Oregon. She played bridge two to three times a week with her great friends. Her strength, intelligence and wit made her an inspiration to everyone privileged to know her. Ruth is survived by her husband Ray Flanagan; her mother Mary K. Davis; her three children and seven grandchildren, Tom Holden and his wife Hilary (John, Nick, and Sarah), Doug Holden and his wife Stacey (Matthew and Stephanie), and Diane Stevens and her husband Darren (Jackson and Olivia); her sister and best friend, Beverly Willey; and her nephews Tom and Dan Holmes. 

San Jose Mercury News, October 3, 2007