Ruth Graham

Graham got married to Billy Graham in 1943, after meeting each other at Wheaton College and dating for few years. The couple had five children together: Franklin, Nelson, Virginia, Anne and Ruth.

Graham was suffering from fragile health since 1995; she suffered from spinal meningitis, degenerative osteoarthritis of the back and neck and pneumonia and finally in 2007 she was taken off her life support, on her request, and died on June 14, 2007.

Ruth Graham was born on June 10, 1920, in Qingjiang, Jiangsu, China to Dr. L. Nelson Bell and Virginia McCue Bell. Her parents were Medical missionaries at the Presbyterian Hospital near Shanghai.

The Bells established love for Christ in their children’s hearts and were devoted to the medical and evangelistic work of the hospital. Her father always kept a busy schedule as a surgical chief and administrative superintendent at the hospital.

Her mother on the other hand took care of the children, the household, taught the children at home until fifth grade, worked at the hospital, ran women’s clinic and worked with other missionaries.

Graham was a soft and tender child because of the warm, loving and dedicated household that she grew up in. She had pets like baby ducks and chicks, and used to give a proper funeral to the ones that died.

She attended a high school in Pyongyang, Korea, at the age of 13 and she studied there for three years. She completed rest of the school education at Montreat, North Carolina. She later graduated from Wheaton College, Illinois.

Graham met Billy Graham at Wheaton College and they got married in 1943. Her husband became an evangelist for Youth for Christ, and they moved to Montreat, to live close to Graham’s family.

Graham travelled with her husband on his tours before the birth of their children. She counseled those who used to show interest in Christ but once her children were born she could not find much time to devote to these campaigns.

She singlehandedly took the responsibility of taking care of the household while her husband used to travel and preach. In 1950, incorporation of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association took place and his ministry grew to sizeable amount.

In 1959, Graham published her first book, ‘Our Christmas Story’, which is an illustrated volume for children. She wrote and co-wrote almost 13 books after that, which she treated as her emotional release.

She founded the Ruth and Billy Graham Children’s Health Centre in 1966, in Asheville, North Carolina. She worked for it until her death.

Apart from her role in making Billy Graham’s ministry a nationwide success, Graham is also known for her writing career. She authored 13 books.