Ruth Agnes Keplinger Galbraith, died peacefully at home surrounded by her children and grandchildren following a decade of progressive Alzheimer's disease. "Miss Ruth" was born April 24, 1935, in Cambridge, Maryland to John Keplinger (Vienna, Austria) and Lydia Scherch Keplinger (Lodz, Russe-Poland), the youngest of the "Keplinger 8." Her musical education began at the age of 6, as she joined her siblings in piano lessons from Miss Agnes Hubbard at the Peabody Institute, Baltimore, Md. Her performance career began at the age of 7, when she joined her siblings in performing "She's a Grand Old Flag" at the VFW in Cambridge. She graduated from Cambridge High School in 1952, winning "Miss Cambridge" that year and performing "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven. She participated in the 1953 "Miss Eastern Shore" pageant, winning First Runner-Up and performing "Turca alla Rondo" by Mozart. She attended the Maryland Institute of Art on a full scholarship, majoring in Fine Art, followed by Iowa State University, majoring in Voice. Her musical training continued in Altadena, CA with Madame Herta Spindler of the Berlin Staatsoper and San Francisco Opera, a "renowned exponent of the Bel Canto school of singing," and student of the great Lili Lehmann.

In 1965, Ruth appeared as soloist with the Masterworks Chorale and Orchestra in Pasadena, Ca. That same year she was a National Semi-finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Her extensive concert repertoire included the works of Mozart, Strauss, Haydn, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, Puccini, Delibes, and Verde (in their original languages) as well as folk songs in Spanish, Polish, Russian, Hebrew, and English. She appeared as a soloist in national live and radio performances (including "Paul Harvey News" and "Remember These Things") throughout the 1960's and was known for her "thrilling" National Anthem.

To accommodate her growing family, Ruth declined a professional touring and recording contract and focused her professional efforts on teaching and encouraging classical music, in San Luis Obispo and later Ventura County, earning her California Lifetime Teaching Credential in 1968 and beginning her teaching career at Taft College. During the 1970's, Ruth focused her professional efforts on Church and Choral music, especially Handel's "Messiah."

For 32 years, Ruth was the Director of Music for CBC Base Pt. Hueneme and Port Mugu, providing music for all programs, and learning to play the organ from Mrs. Trudy Hayes of Oxnard, Ca. Ruth was honored to provide music without charge as an offering to any service member who died while on duty whose family desired services. Upon her retirement, she was awarded Highest Civilian Honors. For 5 years, Ruth taught Chorus at Villanova Preparatory School in Ojai, Ca.

Ruth actively supported her second husband, Glen in his career and passion, moving to Oxnard in 1975 and then in building and operating "The Morning Star" and "The Vanguard." They enjoyed being life-long learners and experts in their respective fields. They loved travel, achieving their dream trip of a photo safari to Zimbabwe and Zambia in 1988. Glen's sudden death twenty years ago challenged her in every way, and she credited her faith in God and her practice to "in everything give thanks" as the encouragement to move forward.

Glen and Ruth were active members of Rotary Club International/Rotarians, each serving terms as President of their respective Port Hueneme chapters in the 1980's. They both advocated for the inclusion and expansion of Gifted and Talented (GATE) and music education in Oxnard Elementary Schools in the 1980's.

She is preceded in death by her parents Lydia Lynda Scherch and John Keplinger, husband, Glen Robert Galbraith her seven siblings and their spouses: Bertha Wright (Thomas,) Martha Malkus (Milton,) Joyce Mueller (Joseph,) Gloria Langrall (Ray,) Iris Fluharty (Kenneth,) John Keplinger, Jr. (Susan,) and Zelma Garretson-Butt (Jack,) and her sister-in law Carol Galbraith. Her friends, students, family, children and grandchildren will remember her teaching through song, her charm, quick wit, generosity, sense of self and dramatic timing. Her strong voice, strong will and fashion sense persisted until the very end. She is survived by her children Mrs. Ron Smith (Kahrmelle Susannah) of Larned, KS, Nevin Adam McKay (Tysun) of Austin, TX and his children Nevin Jr. and Naomi, Mrs. Daniel Jordan (Lydia Rose) of Ventura, CA and their children Eloise Clare, Glen Michael, and Catherine Anne, and John Galbraith of Oxnard, CA.

Her family thanks her caregivers from Mission Hospice, especially Maureen and Martha, for their exceptional charism of care and the blessing of comfort they provided, as well as her other caregivers through the years who allowed us to respect Oma's wishes to live out her life at home in the primary care of her family.