Ruth Evelyn Wilensky Smiley

July 23, 1922 - March 6, 2019

Ruth Evelyn Wilensky Smiley passed away peacefully in Round Rock, Texas on March 6, 2019. Ruth’s memory will be a blessing to her family always. What an amazing woman of faith and fierce independence who has inspired so many along life's journey. Ruth was born in Borough Park, NY on July 23, 1922. Her parents, Harry and Julia Wilensky, had 2 other children, Martin Winslow and Libby Scheuer, of San Francisco, CA. Ruth graduated from Hunter’s College in New York City majoring in Child Development. Ruth married Seymour “Cy” Howard Smiley on March 17, 1945. The couple moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee with Cy’s work in nuclear energy where they spent 22 years. They had two children, Jeffrey Lowell in 1947 and Sherrill Nan in 1950. Together they moved to Bethesda, Maryland in 1972. Seymour passed away in March, 1978. Ruth was always active teaching swimming at the YMCA and volunteering often at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. She was a lifetime member at Ohr Kodesh, avid adult education participant, and travel enthusiast. Ruth was an active grandmother to Sean and Julie, spending many Shabbat dinners and holiday meals laughing and enjoying family moments, and sharing all sporting and school events. Sean and Julie affectionately called her "Gammy". Family was of paramount importance to Ruth and she always strived to share Jewish life cycle events with her California cousins and relatives every chance she could. Her life was active and full of friends at Riderwood in Silver Spring from 2004 until 2015. Her grandchildren, Sean and Julie Smiley, moved her to Round Rock, Texas in 2015. Ruth is survived by her daughter Sherrill Nan Smiley of Redway, CA and grandchildren from her deceased son, Jeffrey Lowell Smiley (1947-1988): Sean Howard Smiley and Eve Anderson Smiley and 4 great-grandchildren, Jacob, Cy, Annabelle and Jeffrey Smiley of Round Rock, TX, granddaughter Julie Felice Smiley of Austin, TX, and daughter-in-law Minnie Spector Skinner of Fairhope, AL. Ruth was an active volunteer at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Donations can be made in her honor at https://donate.ushmm.org/6hRw6kqugUOvJLNKCIbD1g2. Please choose to notify [email protected] of your donation. The family would like you to join them for Brunch following the Graveside Service at: GrillMarx Steakhouse 18149 Town Center Dr, Olney, MD 20832