Ruth Van Houten

Ruth Carol (Reed) Van Houten, age 91, of Columbus, OH, died peacefully on Wednesday August 7, 2019 at Traditions at Mill Run in Hilliard, OH. Preceded in death by her parents, Perce and Marie Reed, her brothers Perce Reed Jr., Robert (Esther) Reed and Paul Reed, loving husband of 64 years Andrew William Van Houten, son Steven Allan Van Houten, and daughter Ellen Marie Van Houten. Survived by son Andrew William Van Houten of New York, NY, and Ellen's partner Finn Quinn, his son and daughter-in-law William and Erica Quinn and their daughter Emily, all of Columbus, OH, and many nieces and nephews. Ruth Carol was born on January 1, 1928 in Cleveland, OH and graduated from East High School in Columbus, OH in 1946. She then enrolled at the Ohio State University, joined the Delta Zeta sorority and graduated in 1950 with a BA in fine arts. One of her favorite teachers was Roy Lichtenstein, later to become a renowned artist, who was then a graduate student at OSU. While in college she met her future husband Andrew Van Houten and they were married in November, 1951. Upon graduation, using her skills at mechanical drawing, she obtained her first job at the printer Warner P. Simpson Company in Columbus. Andrew and Ruth Carol spent most of the fifties in Springfield, OH where she worked at the Crown-Collier Publishing Company before starting her family. She also served as president of the local Delta Zeta alumnae chapter. In 1960, the family moved to Reynoldsburg, OH and lived there for the next twenty-two years. Ruth Carol became involved in educational issues serving as president of the PTA and co-chairman of the campaign for the 1972 school levy for the Reynoldsburg city schools. She was also an active member of the Reynoldsburg United Methodist Church. After moving to Scioto Trace in Columbus in 1982, Ruth Carol started the process of educating herself about managing her family's investments. She became a follower of Benjamin Graham whose book The Intelligent Investor became the key text for "value investing." She was an avid reader of The Wall Street Journal, Investor's Business Daily, Barron's and other business publications, as well as becoming adept at analyzing companies' public financial statements. Ruth Carol and Andrew enjoyed traveling across the U.S. and Europe. They participated in many trips sponsored by the Columbus Museum of Art, of which they were longtime members and supporters. She loved playing bridge which she first learned at her Delta Zeta sorority house. For over sixty years, she regularly played in bridge clubs in Springfield, Reynoldsburg and Columbus. She also loved being outside gardening with her husband. The family wishes to thank the staffs of Northwest Family Physicians, Riverside Methodist Hospital, First Community Village, and the National Church Residences hospice team. The family wants especially to recognize the staff at Traditions at Mill Run for their professional and compassionate care of Ruth Carol over the past several years. Friends may call Monday August 12, 2019 from 6-8 p.m. at the TIDD FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 5265 Norwich St., Hilliard, OH. Private burial at Wesley Chapel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Ruth Carol's memory to the charity of your choice.