of Little Rock, AR
November 22, 1937 - June 29, 2023
Dr. Ruth Marie Allen died on June 29, 2023 at age 85. She was born in Saginaw, Michigan on November 22, 1937, the only child of Dr. Dalton and Marie (Osterbeck) Allen. She was very close to her parents and made many lasting friendships throughout her life. She loved her dogs like family and was survived by the last of her many rescued cocker spaniels, Sara.
After graduating from Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw, Dr. Allen pursued college and professional experiences across the country and internationally. At the University of Michigan, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Physics in 1959. At Michigan State University, she earned her Master of Science degree in Biochemistry in 1961 and PhD in Instructional Design and Technology in 1972. She served in the Peace Corps in Malaysia and traveled around the world throughout her life, sometimes in search of her beloved orchids, often for adventure with friends and family. Ruth was passionate about animals, horticulture, and orchestral music.
Dr. Allen was committed to student learning and designed educational programs and experiences including pioneering distance learning programs for medical sciences students in rural areas. Highlights of her academic career include serving as Associate Professor and Nursing Education Specialist at Wichita State University in Kansas; Associate Professor and Director of the Learning Resource Center at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas; and she served in several capacities while working at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas, including as Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs in the College of Health Professions, she also worked in the Office of Educational Development; and she served as an educational evaluator in the Department of Geriatrics.
Dr. Allen twice served as a visiting professor in China, where she taught medical sciences students how to use technology at the Shanghai Medical University and in biomedical communications at Zhejiang Medical University. Among her many professional associations, she was a charter member of the Association of Biomedical Communications Directors. She was a prolific collaborator on many publications and presentations focused on instructional technology, assessing student learning, training faculty on evaluation, and assessing clinical skills of medical students.
To provide opportunities for students and faculty to have the resources they needed to be successful, she endowed several scholarship programs. She established three endowments at Michigan State University for Students of Horticulture Studying Abroad, for Medical Education, and for Veterinary Medicine.
In retirement, Dr. Allen volunteered at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service where she established the Dr. Ruth Allen Scholarship. She also volunteered at the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra where she performed research for the organization. To share her passion for orchestral music with students, staff, and faculty at UMAS, she endowed the Dr. Ruth Marie Allen Concert Series which provides two annual concerts performed by members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
She also created an endowment at the Arkansas Community Foundation to benefit the gardens at Wildwood Park for the Arts, where she volunteered for several years. The Ruth Allen Dogwood Trail at Wildwood Park was named in her honor.
Family and friends will miss her holiday letters that were always a fascinating summary of her adventures, orchids, dogs, and projects. Ruth was very close to her cousins Rick and Paul Osterbeck, and the late Dr. John W. Hall and his wife Ann Hall. Her regular birthday calls and check-ins are already greatly missed by her cousin John Hall Jr. and his wife Stephanie.
Family and friends will gather for a celebration of Dr. Ruth Allen's life on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 11 am at Wildwood Park. Arrangements have been made possible thanks to the gracious support of Ruth's friends at Wildwood Park. In Ruth's memory, please call an old friend, send a birthday greeting, take that dream trip, or even adopt a pet.
If you would like to reach Dr. Allen's family, please contact them via jhall@datalyzer.com.
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11 Condolence(s)
Deborah Delk
Friday, September 15, 2023
She was Ms.Ruth to me. My grandson called her Ms.Aunt Ruth, lol. We were next door neighbors. I met her about 5years ago when I moved in with my daughter and son-in-love. I wasn’t working at the time n was available when she needed me. I’d help her plant flowers, change a light bulb, get her mail or whatever. Each encounter would include interesting conversations. I loved hearing stories about her life n travels. She was a great listener n offered her opinions on whatever the subject. It was a very sad day in our home when I heard of her passing. She is and will be greatly missed by our family.
Sean Valles
Monday, September 11, 2023
I send condolences on behalf of the Michigan State University Office of Medical Education Research and Development. I am new to my position leading the office, but I quickly learned of how Dr. Allen had been a source of joy in the office for decades. She was, and will remain, a legendary figure in our hallways. After participating in a program run by our (then newly-formed) office in 1970-1971, Dr. Allen became a longtime ally and supporter of our office, due to a shared passion for for improving medical education by fostering teachers’ career development. Her gift to our office allowed us to create the Ruth M. Allen Fund for Medical Education, which we have used to pursue that shared passion. We are forever grateful for her spirit and generosity.
We will sorely miss Dr. Allen. For some of us she was a personal friend. For all of us she was an inspiration. It is hard to imagine our office without Dr. Allen. She had been connected with us for nearly the entirety of our office’s existence. We will do our part to keep her memory alive, continuing the good work she had supported.
Sending wishes of peace and comfort to her bereaved family,
Sean
Floie Vane
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Ruth and my friendship started about 1960 when we were graduate students at Michigan State University. Ever since then we exchanged Christmas cards. I last saw Ruth in May 1999 when I was on a cross-country driving trip from New Jersey to Seattle, WA. Ruth was a talented and dedicated person.
Evi G G. Davenport
Thursday, September 7, 2023
I knew Ruth from our mutual work in the Health Sciences Communications Association. But one year we had an unexpected meeting. I was traveling to Morocco with a travel company and when I received the list of our group members, I recognized Ruth's name (listed only as being from Arkansas). She did not recognize mine as I had married since we had last met. She arrived in Morocco a few days before me so I was able to surprise her as I walked onto the bus and announced, "Hi, Ruth, I'm your roommate for the next two weeks." And we did share some interesting experiences together in Morocco. To make this meeting on the other side of the world even more intriguing, since I had last seen her at her house in Galveston, I had been hired to fill her position as Director of Learning Resources at UTMB. So our lives were truly connected in multiple ways. We corresponded for the last ten years or more every year at Christmas time. I am glad that I met Ruth and that we shared that amazing time in Morocco.
Beverly Hall
Thursday, September 7, 2023
SPECIAl, special Ruth! From across the street neighbors and great friends in Galveston, Tx. What a woman! She loved her friends, dogs, orchids,art, music, profession and her life! And we loved her just as much. R.I.P. dear Ruth . . .
Sara and Jay Gober
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
We were her next door neighbors for several years and stayed in touch for many years, visiting her once in Arkansas. She named her dog Sara after me. She was a very special lady
Glenda j Cooper
Monday, September 4, 2023
Ruth was very dedicated to medical education
Melinda Marks
Saturday, September 2, 2023
Ruth and I became fast friends a few years ago at Water Aerobics class. She stood next to me, toward the shallow end, as I was easily an inch taller than she was. She was an amazing storyteller, and we often were chastised for talking too much during class. Her tales about returning to the US after serving a year in the Peace Corps were delightful. She came home to a rapidly changing youth culture and wasn’t sure she wanted to adapt to the “Don’t trust anyone over 30†culture. I assume physical limitations prevented her from coming to class these past couple of years. I’ve missed her there; we both spoke fluent sarcasm. Here’s to you, Ruth.
Douglas Murphy
Thursday, August 31, 2023
I had the privilege of meeting Ruth a few months after I arrived in Little Rock in 2018. She was not only a valued professional colleague, but she became one of my dearest friends in Little Rock. She was a generous supporter of programs in the College of Health Professions, establishing an endowed scholarship for students in the Physician Assistant program and actively advocating for the visual arts in the college. I miss Ruth dearly and will always remember her quiet demeanor and devotion to education, the arts, and her beloved canine companions. Rest in peace, dear Ruth.
Donna O'Connor
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Ruth was a bright light for everyone around her. Her smile and wit were endearing. She lived across the street from us in Galveston and we had many long talks that I thoroughly enjoyed. She was a fount of knowledge that she shared willingly. She will be sorely missed. She made the world a better place that's for sure.
Russ Adkins
Friday, July 28, 2023
I am so sad to learn of Ruth's passing. I worked with Ruth at Wichita State University; consulted for her at UTMB Galveston, and maintained our friendship over the years that began in the 1980's. I learned to her death by searching for her and finding this obituary after her phone went straight to voicemail. She was a lovely, loving and incredibly capable person, professionally and personally. The world was a better place when Ruth was alive. I shall miss her in a big way.
If still alive, I hope that someone cares for her dogs. They were at the center of her life.
Russ Adkins