Ruth M. Patrick, PhD

Ruth Martin Patrick was born November 4, 1930, on a small farm in Northeast Louisiana to Alfred and Birdie Martin and died in Baton Rouge La. on February 9, 2026, at the age of 95. She was the oldest of their four children. She grew up helping her family on their farm, canning vegetables, working in the cotton fields, baking bread and helping her mother cook for the family. She attended a two-room elementary school in Forest, La., skipped second grade, and graduated from Lake Providence High School at 15 years of age. Like many small depression era farming families of the day, her family was poor. She borrowed money for her first year of college from a friend of the family who was impressed with her work ethic and ambition, with the understanding she would have a job while in school, win an academic scholarship for future tuition and repay the loan, which she did. She entered Northeast Louisiana State University in Monroe, La., which was then a junior college and part of LSU, where she thrived academically and socially. After two years at Northeast, she transferred to LSU in Baton Rouge where she graduated with honors at 19 years of age with a bachelor’s degree in science in 1950. She then obtained an assistantship to work on a master’s degree in Home Economics at LSU. At LSU she met two individuals who would have profound impacts on her life, her major professor Dorothy Mochette, whom she revered and admired, and her future husband, William H. Patrick Jr., who was also an LSU student on the GI Bill after serving in the Army in the Philippines and Japan during World War II. She obtained a master’s degree and in December 1951, she married Bill Patrick in a ceremony officiated by Dr. William E. Trice in the brand-new sanctuary of University Methodist Church on the LSU campus. Like many post-war married couples, she and Bill soon began having a family and welcomed Terry, Billy, Carol within a four-year period, and Henry a few years later.

During her early child rearing years, Ruth concentrated on raising her small children and supporting Bill’s career. However, she had sufficient energy to become heavily involved in community activities. She helped launch Baton Rouge’s Operation Upgrade, which combatted adult illiteracy, and Small World, a group which taught “American life and culture” to wives of foreign students who were studying at LSU. She was president of the PTA of the recently built Magnolia Woods Elementary School, where she helped raise funds to air condition the school. She was a charter member of the Board of Directors of the Capital Area Literacy Foundation. As her older children reached high school age, she began working on a PhD degree in Food Science at LSU. She obtained her PhD, graduating the same year (1971) that her daughter Terry graduated from high school.

Ruth began work as a nutritionist in the Extension Service at LSU in 1971 and became a State Nutrition Specialist. She loved putting on seminars, workshops and educational programs with the latest information on nutrition, food safety and food preservation, and she extensively traveled the 64 parishes of Louisiana to do so. Soon she knew every highway and local road in Louisiana and people from all over the state. The health and wellbeing of thousands of Louisianians were improved significantly through the numerous bulletins she wrote, as well as her video, news articles and public presentations, and her Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning nutrition programs on WBRZ TV in Baton Rouge. She loved her years working at Channel 2 and remained friends with the talented individuals she worked with there. Through her seminars, public presentations and regular television programs, Dr. Ruth was easily recognizable in the community because of her colorful and stylish attire, her striking red hair, and especially the trademark hibiscus flower which she wore on her lapel every day.

When Pennington Biomedical Research Center opened, she became Chief of Nutrition Education for Pennington, a job she enjoyed until her retirement in 2004. In that role, she helped translate and communicate Pennington’s scientific research to the general public, which was a natural corollary to her continuing responsibilities as a Nutrition Specialist in the LSU Extension Service.

Her work was not restricted to the state of Louisiana. She traveled extensively in the U.S. and internationally, presenting seminars and speaking at scientific and trade association meetings. Of special importance to her, in 1994 she spent a month in Uganda to help establish a food science department at Makerere State University in Kampala.

She was a member of numerous honor societies and professional organizations. She was proud of her 60 year affiliation with the national honor society of Phi Kappa Phi where she was on the national board of directors and was the Director of Fellowships and of her service as a member of the board of directors of the American Heart Foundation. She was a Fellow of the International Institute of Food Technology and received an IFT national award presented by Secretary of State Colin Powell. She received many other awards and honors during her career, including being recognized as Alumnus of the Year for the LSU Agriculture Center, a YMCA Woman of Achievement, and receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from Pennington Biomedical. Even in retirement, she remained active, becoming a member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club of Baton Rouge.

But educational and professional work did not exclusively dominate her life. Dr. Ruth found time each year to bake her renowned Christmas cinnamon rolls (recipe can be found in an Extension Bulletin) for friends and family. She hosted each year the carolers from the annual Christmas Caroling Party started in 1971, upon their completion of caroling at Lady of the Lake Hospital, Ollie Steele Burden nursing home and St. James Place. The caroling party in her home always concluded with an impressive singing of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus.

Dr. Ruth was an active Grandma Ruthie (or “G Ruthie” as her grandchildren called her behind her back) to her 12 grandchildren. Her home was especially abuzz over the Christmas holidays. With her husband she brought the grandchildren to Washington D.C. when they reached 11 years old. She also visited her Pisarello grandchildren in Buenos Aires, frequently bringing other grandchildren with her to visit their Argentine cousins.

Ruth and her husband, Bill, were active members of the University Methodist Church since 1950, and both served in many leadership roles over the years. Among their most cherished lifetime friends were Dr. W.E. Trice and his wife, Leora, and Bishop Benjamin Oliphint and his wife, Nancy, with whom in retirement Ruth and Bill vacationed often at the Oliphint’s Colorado mountain cabin.

In 2004, Ruth and Bill became the first couple to receive 50 year pins recognizing their lengthy service and tenure as students and faculty members at LSU. They never overlooked or underestimated the importance of LSU and the university community to their lives, and over the years they established lectureships and academic scholarships through the LSU Foundation in the areas of food science and coastal studies at LSU.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. William H. Patrick Jr.; parents; and her brother, Joseph Garland Martin.

She is survived by her four children, Terry Patrick Harris (Joseph), William H. Patrick III (Melanie), Dr. Carol Patrick Pisarello (Jorge) and Dr. Henry Carr Patrick (Randa); 12 grandchildren, Dr. Catherine Harris Boston (Van), Anna Pisarello (Chris), Benjamin Harris (Sarah), Laura Pisarello (Augusto), Meredith Patrick Pace (Drew), Nicolas Pisarello (Katie), Madeleine Patrick (Tom), Dr. Clayton Patrick (Paige), Dr. Hayes Patrick (Kate), William Patrick IV (Claire), Dr. Henry "Hank" Patrick III, Molly Patrick; and 14 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, James M. Martin (Jeannette); sister, Ann M. Elliot; sister-in-law, Louise F. Martin; and many nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews.

A celebration of her long life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at University United Methodist Church, 3350 Dalrymple Drive in Baton Rouge, LA, with Rev. Katie McKay Simpson, Rev. Ken Irby and Dr. William Finnin presiding. There will be a visitation and reception before the service at 12:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Immediately following the funeral, there will be a family graveside service and burial next to her husband at the Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Benjamin, Nicolas, Clayton, Hayes, William, Hank, and her nephew, Flint Martin.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ruth can be made to the “Ruth M. Patrick Endowed Scholarship in Food Science”, care of the LSU Foundation, 3796 Nicholson Dr, Baton Rouge LA 70802,

http://givelsu.org/ruthpatrick

telephone (802)735-6732 or to University United Methodist Church, telephone (225)344-0343.

The family is grateful to the care team at St. James Place Highland Court Memory Care, and to Hospice of Baton Rouge.

Many heartfelt thanks to her longtime caregiver, Ms. Kris Pettigrew, who treated her with respect, love, patience and dignity as the years gradually overcame Dr. Ruth’s physical health, intelligence and dynamic personality.