City of Irving Mourns the Passing of Ruth Paine
City of Irving Mourns the Passing of Ruth Paine
The City of Irving and the Irving Department of Arts and Culture are saddened to announce the passing of Ruth Hyde Paine, who died on August 31, 2025, just three days before her 93rd birthday.
Ruth Paine’s life became intertwined with one of the most pivotal moments in American history. In 1963, Marina Oswald and her children were living with Ruth in her modest Irving home when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Unknown to Ruth at the time, Lee Harvey Oswald had stored the rifle the Warren Commission determined was used in the assassination in her garage.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Ruth provided crucial testimony to the Warren Commission, answering more questions than any other witness. Over the decades, she gave countless interviews and dedicated herself to clarifying her role in history. While her name became forever linked to the Kennedy assassination, Ruth Paine was also an educator, a linguist, a Quaker, and a woman of principle, whose life stretched far beyond November 22, 1963.
In 2009, the City of Irving purchased the Paine home on West 5th Street and restored it to its 1963 appearance. In 2013, the home opened as the Ruth Paine House Museum, a historic site that explores the events leading up to President Kennedy’s assassination. The museum also highlights Ruth’s friendship with Marina Oswald, which brought the Oswald family into her home during that pivotal time. After the opening, Ruth visited the museum several times, generously sharing her memories and insights, and offering her support for the city’s efforts to preserve this important chapter of history.
“The City of Irving is deeply grateful to Ruth Paine,” said Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer “Through her generosity and willingness to share her experiences, she helped us preserve a vital piece of history for future generations. Her life reminds us that history is often lived by ordinary people placed in extraordinary circumstances.”
Ruth Paine will be remembered not only for the history that unfolded around her but also for her lifelong commitment to education, peace, and service. The City of Irving extends its heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.
Information regarding a public memorial service has not been announced at this time.
To see our memorial page honoring Ruth Paine, please visit: https://www.irvingarchivesandmuseum.com/ruth-paine-memorial.
About the Ruth Paine House Museum
The Ruth Paine House Museum immerses visitors in the story of the events leading up to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy through a restored 1963 suburban home, multimedia exhibits, and projected vignettes featuring Ruth and Michael Paine and Marina and Lee Harvey Oswald. Period furnishings, family photographs, and archival media transport visitors back to a pivotal moment in American history while also exploring Ruth Paine’s civic and social justice work during the 1960s.
For more information about the Ruth Paine House Museum, please visit: https://www.irvingarchivesandmuseum.com/ruth-paine-house-museum.
In recognition of the twenty-fifth anniversary of September 11, 2001, the Irving Archives and Museum presents 9/11 Remembered .
Discover local history and community at the Jackie Townsell Bear Creek Heritage Center on Saturday, October 10, at 1 p.m. Bear Creek: Fall Into History invites you to explore three historic buildings: the Bear Creek Masonic Lodge, the Green House, and the J.O. Davis House. Each site has been thoughtfully restored with interactive elements and offers a unique glimpse into the African American community that helped shape Irving’s history. While you explore, snap a selfie in our native Texas plant garden and pick up a free Legacy Kit to start uncovering your own family history. Come at your own pace, wander the historic grounds, and even bring a picnic to enjoy under the on-site pavilion. Free and family-friendly, with no RSVP required!
COMING SOON TO IAM: Killing the Negative: A Conversation in Art & Verse
Second Saturdays at IAM! FREE Admission and FREE Activities for Everyone!
We Saved the Sign!
Irving Archives and Museum Opens Late Saturday, August 22, 2026
The Home Team: Spirit and Sports in Irving On View Through August 9, 2026 at IAM!
Over a 29-year career, Tom Landry led the Dallas Cowboys through 20 consecutive winning seasons, many of them during the team’s years at Texas Stadium in Irving. Experience Tom Landry: A Life in Football through August 9, 2026 at the Irving Archives and Museum!
Badge of Pride and Irving Archives & Museum Win 2026 AASLH Award of Excellence
Irving Archives and Museum & Mustangs of Las Colinas - Museum Stores - Summer Sale!
