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.
Second Saturdays at IAM! FREE Admission and FREE Activities for Everyone!
The Irving Archives and Museum and Badge of Pride have been nationally recognized by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) with the 2026 Museum Impact Award for the groundbreaking exhibition Badge of Pride: From Silence…to Celebration! Presented annually by AAM, the only organization representing the entire museum field, the Museum Impact Award honors programs and institutions making meaningful contributions through community engagement, cultural leadership, and transformative storytelling. The award is considered one of the museum industry’s highest distinctions. Badge of Pride: From Silence…to Celebration! became the largest artifact-based LGBTQ+ history exhibition ever presented in Texas. Developed collaboratively by the Irving Archives and Museum and Badge of Pride alongside community members and national partners, the exhibition featured more than 600 artifacts, bilingual interpretation, 12 free public programs, and a digital guide that expanded access beyond the museum walls. “This award reflects the incredible collaboration, trust, and courage that made this exhibition possible,” said Adrian J. Cardwell, Executive Director of Badge Of Pride. “We are deeply grateful to our staff, partners, supporters, and community members whose voices and contributions shaped this project from the beginning.” The Irving Archives and Museum continues to serve as a dynamic cultural destination for North Texas residents and visitors alike. The museum features its permanent exhibition, The Irving Story, which explores the city’s rich and evolving history. It is also home to the only Smithsonian Spark!Lab in Texas, an interactive invention space for young visitors. Currently on display, The Perfect Shot: Walter Iooss Jr., and the Art of Sports Photography, features iconic moments in sports history, on view through August 9, 2026. Founded in 2022, Badge of Pride is a Dallas-based, queer-led nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public understanding through history, art, and cultural storytelling. What began as a personal archival project has grown into a major cultural initiative focused on expanding historical literacy, strengthening belonging, and preserving LGBTQ+ histories across Texas and beyond. Community members are invited to experience Badge of Pride’s latest collaborative program, A Manifesto For Us All , presented in partnership with The Writer's Garret. Taking place Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at the Bishop Arts Theatre Center, the performance revisits the landmark 1971 Gay Liberation Front Manifesto alongside contemporary queer writings that explore belonging, liberation, and justice. The event highlights how the calls for equality and transformation made more than fifty years ago continue to resonate today. For more information about the Irving Archives and Museum, upcoming exhibitions, and programs, visit Irving Archives and Museum . To learn more about Badge of Pride and upcoming events, visit Badge of Pride . For media inquiries, contact April Baker, Assistant Director of Museums, Irving Archives and Museum, at abaker@irvingtx.gov .
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!
The Perfect Shot: Walter Iooss Jr., and the Art of Sports Photography Opens at IAM
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Second Saturdays at IAM! FREE Admission and FREE Activities for Everyone!
History in Bloom is a family-friendly event at Jackie Townsell Bear Creek Heritage Center, Saturday, May 16, 2026, 1 - 4 p.m. Located at 3925 Jackson St. Join the Irving Department of Arts and Culture for free tours, lawn games, and historical education about one of Dallas County's oldest African American communities. Plus, the Irving-based coffee makers at Hudson Grounds Coffee Co. will be providing FREE coffee and matcha for all who attend! The heritage center includes the Bear Creek Masonic Lodge, the Green House, and the J.O. Davis House. All three sties offer a way to connect with the ongoing story of Bear Creek and the people who helped shape Irving’s cultural landscape.
Join Us at IAM for Docent-Led Tours on the First Sunday of Every Month at 2 pm! FREE ADMISSION & FREE TOUR!
