from Mrs Tan Guat Kim, friend and former teacher, Ipoh MGS

I am very sad that Miss Ho died so suddenly . She  was a very good Principal and I learned a lot from her . When she came to Singapore for a holiday , she would contact me and in her last visit we spent time together in my house . We played the organ  and sang songs and hymns after our lunch . We enjoyed ourselves very much and we said that we would do the same thing in her next visit . Sad to say , that was the last meeting I had with her  because we would never meet again .

 She was a very kind , efficient , caring  and humble person . I used to communicate with her by using the computer but later , she had trouble with the computer and so we contacted less often . But occasionally , I phoned her  and I am glad I had the opportunity to talk to her  just before she passed away . She could remember me and then the nurse  who held the phone for her told me that Miss Ho was too weak to talk.

Thus we had to end the phone call. But I sent her a letter after that and I was told  by Aileen that she did  receive my letter before she  had the heart attack . I am very happy that she did read my letter .

I know Miss Ho is in a better place now  !

Regards

Tan Guat Kim

from Swee-Im Ung, former student of 1968

Ruth Ho was indeed a great leader of MGS Ipoh; in her quiet unassuming way, she led the teachers and pupils to ever higher standards - academic, sporting as well as extra curricular activities, including music.  She encouraged us and had empathy for all students, from whichever walk of life or innate abilities; she saw the potential in us and helped us achieve our best.

She had the foresight as to how the school should develop and made it happen.  She was instrumental in raising funds for much building/extension work, and we benefitted from the domestic science kitchens as well as a typewriting room - practically unheard of in the mid 60s.  She encouraged the production of 'Sing Out' in 1967 with teachers and students spending significant time on this project, as well as getting some good vocalists from other schools in Ipoh to join in, which built ties to these schools.

I am glad I managed to visit her in Hawaii a few years ago to personally thank her for her dedication and kind support of all of us - she was humbly surprised at our deep affection and appreciation.

Swee-Im UNG

Group of 1968

from Lee Ai Leen, niece

Aunty Ruth is a part of my childhood memories and I'm so happy that she is also a part of my children's memories. When I was a child she always had time for me, whether to encourage me with the piano, or to sympathise with my struggles over Chinese lessons or to let me 'help' her bathe the dogs. She introduced me to Gilbert and Sullivan's jaunty operettas as well as to children's literature other than the ubiquitous Enid Blyton books. As a child, Christmas would be an even more exciting occasion because she would give my family a special lunch treat at Robinsons. I was awestruck by the starched white table linens, the heavy cutlery and warm bread rolls.

After she moved to Hawaii, she stayed in regular touch and always remembered our birthdays. Aunty would come out to visit us in Singapore once every few years. She was here for our wedding and here when our daughter took her first steps. She flew over to meet our young son and again to join us in welcoming the new millennium. She spent one Christmas with us when the children were still quite small, and I remember her shaking her head at the over-abundance of presents under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, she was one of the major contributors to the largesse over Christmas, as each year she would send us a few boxes of carefully wrapped presents. She kept this up even when it became an effort for her to go out shopping, and I was touched that she did this for us, particularly when I know she seldom indulged herself.

Aunty's friends were important to her. Especially during her last one or two visits when she tired more easily, she would each time resolve to 'lie low' and have a quiet, relaxing holiday so that she could recover from the arduous plane journey. However, she would always relent when friends called to inveigle a few hours with her. She had to see them "just one more time" she would say. Her last visit was in July 2013. She wanted to see us "for the last time", she said. I wish I had made more of that time

Lee Ai Leen

from Matthew Lee, grand-nephew

Aunty Ruth visited us once every 2-3 years and would stay for a few weeks each time. We would look forward to her visits for weeks and weeks, and when she was leaving we would complain that she was leaving us “Ruth-less”.

I remember being so excited every time she came, that she would barely be unpacked before I would be in her room eagerly waiting to show her my latest stuffed toy, book or discovery. She really engaged with us and immersed herself in our lives. When I was about four, she visited around Halloween and we spent days turning the upstairs room into a haunted house, complete with body parts, paper-mache spiders and “hollow men”. Aunty Ruth gamely donned a white blanket to act as the main attraction. I also remember being so caught up in the fantasy that I scared myself as we were showing Mum and Dad around the room. I burst out in tears when we got to Aunty Ruth sitting in a chair going “wooooohh”. This quite alarmed Aunty Ruth and she had to take off the blanket to reassure me that everything was okay!

Aunty Ruth shared with us her love of God. Aunty had a firm and unshakable faith in God. On one visit, I had just started reading the Bible for myself and Aunty Ruth took time to talk to me about God and life. One of my most vivid memories was from just before Christmas, when I was about 6. I had just learnt how to type and for my first project, had decided to retype the entire Gospel of Luke for Christmas. Aunty spent the better part of the afternoon and the night reading Luke to me as I laboriously entered each word into the computer. I lost that file a long time ago, but it was special being around someone who truly loved the Word and encouraged me to read the Bible for myself. When I was only 2, she sent us a collection of devotions she had written, and intended for me to read when I was older. I think her writing inspired me to start writing myself. I produced stories under “Lee Family Publications” like Aunty’s “RHL Press”, although that’s another story.

Aunty Ruth’s love of music also spilled over to us. During her visits she could often be found at the piano playing hymns or “campfire” tunes from Grandpa’s songbook. I did not have music lessons growing up, and Sister’s relationship with piano lessons was not entirely positive, but we loved singing to Aunty Ruth’s piano playing. Over the years, Mum taught me to read notes and Aunty Ruth would patiently accompany me with the harmony as I painstakingly picked out the melody with one hand. Music was such a part of Aunty Ruth’s life and she encouraged my early interest in music.

Aunty Ruth came over again two years ago in 2013. I was serving National Service in the Air Force and was only home in the evenings. I was tired most of the time, but we had the chance to spend time together over meals and outings to all the new sights around Singapore.

What I will remember most about Aunty Ruth was how she always made time for us, and was genuinely interested in what we were doing. She seemed to be an amazing cornucopia of knowledge and wisdom (I think we called her that at one point!)—she always had something witty to say, or an interesting nugget of literary, historical or cultural information to share.  But at the same time, she was a Cornucopia who loved us dearly, and wanted us to grow up with solid values, love and security.