The beloved wife of Billy Graham, she slipped into a coma yesterday and died today:
Ruth Graham, the wife of U.S. evangelist Billy Graham, died on Thursday after slipping into a coma, the popular preacher's office said.
Graham, who was 87, died at 5:05 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT) at her home at Little Piney Cove in Montreat, North Carolina, surrounded by her husband and five children, the office said in a statement."Ruth was my life partner, and we were called by God as a team," Graham said in the statement.
"No one else could have borne the load that she carried. She was a vital and integral part of our ministry, and my work through the years would have been impossible without her encouragement and support."
She and Billy were married for 64 years; the two of them touched so many lives.
Time Magazine has a wonderful piece. She was a remarkable but very down to earth woman:
Barbara Bush and Ruth Graham shared an extensive correspondence over the years and a great deal more: both were strong-willed and outspoken women who married young and found themselves responsible for large families while their husbands moved in ever-widening circles around the world. Both women also looked out for their sometimes too-trusting spouses. And each could unholster a wicked sense of humor when she needed it. In 2006 Barbara noted that Ruth had once been asked whether, as a Christian, she had ever contemplated divorce. Barbara explained, "Her answer, was, 'Divorce? No. Murder? Yes.'" Added Barbara, "I could understand that."
I like this part the best:
Ruth brought to their union just the right skill set to manage a household as unusual as hers. She liked to tell their five children that "there comes a time to stop submitting and start outwitting" -- a rule that applied to herself as well, such as when she tried to hide a broken arm from Billy because she didn't want him to know that she had gone hang gliding.
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Comments (7)
This is why I think Catholi... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Paul Hamilton | June 14, 2007 8:46 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
This is why I think Catholic priests should be allowed to marry. No one could deny that their marriage made both of them better people and better in their service to the faith.
1. Posted by Paul Hamilton | June 14, 2007 8:46 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 14, 2007 20:46
2. Posted by jpe | June 14, 2007 10:37 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Wow, that's so sad.
Tell ya what, I happened to catch a replay of a Graham sermon / revival from '62 the other day on some random channel, and one got the sense that he was changing the world (and he did, as it turned out). I'm sure she was a rock on which he built his revival.
2. Posted by jpe | June 14, 2007 10:37 PM |
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Posted on June 14, 2007 22:37
3. Posted by LAB | June 14, 2007 11:13 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
A very good woman. May she rest in peace.
3. Posted by LAB | June 14, 2007 11:13 PM |
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Posted on June 14, 2007 23:13
4. Posted by Jim Addison | June 14, 2007 11:40 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
My thoughts and prayers for her family and friends.
Rest in peace, Miz Ruth . . .
4. Posted by Jim Addison | June 14, 2007 11:40 PM |
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Posted on June 14, 2007 23:40
5. Posted by sola scriptura | June 17, 2007 1:51 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
It's truly appalling that a person so respected for supposed Biblical knowledge would show so little thereof by declaring that his wife "had a great reception in heaven." Although we understand that this must be a difficult time for him, we need to maintain a clear discerment even in moments of pain.
Not only is the belief that people go to heaven when they die grossly foreign to the Bible, it also shows how much modern Protestantism is close to Catholicism and far from its ideal of restoring biblical truth to Christianity.
NOWHERE does the Bible teach the immortality of the soul, this is greek philosophy originated in Plato which infiltrated Christianity. Jesus taught that dead people are sleeping (read his resurrection miracles), not floating to heaven or being punished somewhere.
Furthermore, the immortality of the soul totally contradicts a belief in the resurrection. If people are already in heaven, why in the world would they have to come back and resurrect when Jesus comes back to Earth?? It makes absolutely no sense. How much can we learn by simply reading the Bible plain as it is!!
People should stop worshipping these Star Pastors and their erroneous teachings and return to simple Biblical truth. Billy Graham is misleading people and his teachings are actually DANGEROUS!
Sola scriptura PLEASE!! For more information, visit www.amazingfacts.org.
5. Posted by sola scriptura | June 17, 2007 1:51 AM |
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Posted on June 17, 2007 01:51
6. Posted by revs.david and irene brooks and family | June 20, 2007 11:42 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
dear reverend biily graham and family,
my husband and i are deeply sorry to hear about your loss we want you to know that our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family at the time of your loss.reverend irene and reverend david brooks.
p.o.box 191 shepherdsville ky 40165
6. Posted by revs.david and irene brooks and family | June 20, 2007 11:42 PM |
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Posted on June 20, 2007 23:42
7. Posted by Jude Stringfellow | July 21, 2007 5:48 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I had no idea that Mr. Graham had passed away. I don't know why I didn't know, but I do offer my prayers and my love to the Graham family, their friends, and the world of hearts and souls touched by her grace and partnership of 64 years to the love of her beautiful life. May she smile constantly on you all from His Heaven.
7. Posted by Jude Stringfellow | July 21, 2007 5:48 PM |
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Posted on July 21, 2007 17:48