Ruth Buffington Hansen
1943 – 2009
Ruth Buffington was a high school student when she got involved with SNCC in her hometown of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. When she was 20 years old she married SNCC Field Secretary William Hansen. Because interracial marriage was outlawed in Arkansas, Bill and Ruth went to Ohio to marry in Bill’s hometown. After several years with SNCC, she and Bill moved to Ohio. Ruth died 12 July 2009 in Florida.