Daughter of Eric and Olga Allwardt, Ruth was born in Willoughby, OH. She lived much of her life in St. Louis, although she lived for short periods in Boston and Chicago, as well as Switzerland and Lebanon. It was in Lebanon that she met her first husband, Salim Hanna, who emigrated to St. Louis and opened the popular restaurant, Saleem's, now located in University City. He currently operates Simon's Mediterranean Café in West St. Louis County.

Ruth worked in editing and proofreading for a number of companies and organizations until forming a spiritual resource center in 1981, which would come to be called One Heart. Originally it was for disseminating information on a metaphysical teaching known as A Course in Miracles. Within a few years the scope of One Heart Spiritual Resource Center broadened to bring to St. Louis a number of noted speakers, including Ram Dass, Pat Rodegast (Emmanuel), Alan Cohen, Paul Steinberg, Stephen Schwartz, and others. Ruth sold metaphysical books and tapes back when they were not readily available in most bookstores.

In 1989 Ruth married Robert Ferre, who is now a well-known labyrinth artist. Ruth became active in the labyrinth world, attending annual conferences sponsored by the Labyrinth Society, an international organization founded by Robert. See www.labyrinth-enterprises.com. She had no children in either marriage.

For 14 years Ruth taught the principles of A Course in Miracles in the adult education department of Maryville College (now Maryville University), introducing hundreds of people to the material. The course was titled Curriculum for Inner Peace. Ruth and Robert were a popular couple, teaching A Course in Miracles and leading study groups.

Since 1993 Ruth practiced as a psychotherapist. She holds a Masters degree from the University of Missouri, St. Louis. Her various writings include a monthly "Heart Lessons" column in Spirit Seeker Magazine, in St. Louis. In 2005 she self-published a collection of her columns, entitled Heart Lessons for the Journey Home: Essays to Comfort, Encourage, and Inspire.

First diagnosed in 2001 with breast cancer, Ruth chose a series of alternative treatments, including going to Germany. Some of her experiences and insights were the subject matter of her monthly column for Spirit Seeker Magazine. Discovering in July, 2005, that the cancer had metastasized to the bone in numerous places, Ruth underwent a series of standard radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

On January 17, 2007, an x-ray revealed that she had advanced stages of untreatable lung cancer. She immediately entered home hospice care with Alternative Hospice. During the
last week of her life, she was visited by many of her faithful and loving friends who came night and day to attend to her needs and to support her husband, Robert. Medication kept her relatively comfortable. She passed away at 6:20 a.m. the morning of Wednesday, January 24th, in her home, with Robert nearby.

Ruth made an important contribution to many lives in St. Louis and will be greatly missed.

Robert