The Ms. Virginia Senior America 2008 Pageant was held May 30, at the James Lee Senior Center, 2955 Annandale Road, Falls Church, Virginia.

State email address: www.msvirginiasenior.com

CONGRATULATIONS to RUTH EARLY BARNETT Ms. Virginia Senior America 2008,   and a special thanks to State Directors Suzann Howe & Jackie Bong-Wright and the State of Viginia's Sponsors for a another beautiful & elegant pageant!  

Ruth Barnett was born and raised in Ohio and her interest in music began at an early age. In grade school she learned to play the piano and the viola. In the eighth grade she also learned to play the trombone and was accepted as a trombone player into the high school marching band and the concert band. Ruth also played the viola in the high school orchestra.

After high school Ruth pursued a nursing course of study and graduated as an LPN from Timken-Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing. Her nursing career encompassed many different disciplines including work on hematology research and vision research at Ohio State University Hospital.

When the family moved to Massachusetts Ruth enrolled at Lasell College and completed the course of study to become a Registered Nurse. She worked in the surgical intensive care unit, the step-down surgical unit and the high risk maternity unit.

Since retiring and moving to Virginia, Ruth now volunteers as the Parish Nurse for the Sydenstricker United Methodist Church. Her duties include checking blood pressure, assisting at health fairs on Cancer and Diabetes and working with Life Line Screening.

She stays connected to her music, having served as the praise and worship leader for the Bethel AM.E. Church in Boston where she performed at weddings, funerals and organized a voice recital in honor of her father.

Ruth has found time to complete one half of the marathon in New Orleans to benefit AIDS victims. She also is member of"Curves and loves to ballroom dance and kick box.

Her other interests include traveling, gardening, working puzzles as well as coloring with crayons.

She is married and the mother of two children and grandmother to six.

For information on the Ms. Virginia Senior America Pageant, please e-mail us at Senior America Management or call us at 1-800-369-1369 or (732) 746-2598.

The Ms. Senior America Pageant is the world's first and foremost pageant to emphasize and give honor to women who have reached the "Age of Elegance." It is a search for the gracious lady who best exemplifies the dignity, maturity and inner beauty of all senior Americans. The Ms. Senior America philosophy is based upon the belief that seniors are the foundation of America, and our most valuable treasure. It is upon their knowledge, experience and resources that the younger generation has the opportunity to build a better society.