Long Island Couple Dies Hours Apart After 70 Years of Marriage

An elderly couple from New Hyde Park were married for 70 long years but died Monday within hours of each other.

Ruth Bauer was 92 and William Bauer was 97.

The longtime couple met while working together at a bank in the 1940s and married in 1946 when Bill returned from World War II after serving in the Navy, according to the Associated Press.

Visitation will be held Thursday at Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Homes Inc., located at 125 Hillside Ave. in New Hyde Park, from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m.

Funeral service will be held Friday at Notre Dame R.C. Church, located at 45 Mayflower Road in New Hyde Park, at 9:15 a.m.

The couple will be buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Pinelawn.

Obituary:

Ruth and Bill are survived by their children Charles (Barbara), Marie (the late Al) and Thomas (Jenifer), and their grandchildren Jill, Adam, Christopher, Patrick and Daniel. Bill is also survived by his sister, Lois Ebner of Staten Island.

Ruth Bauer was born and raised in Jamaica, Queens. She attended Dominican Commercial High School and, after WWII, married her sweetheart Bill Bauer. Later in life, she fulfilled a lifelong dream by graduating from Queens College with a Bachelor of Science in Library Science and earning her MLS from CW Post.

Ruth volunteered as, and eventually became, the first professional Librarian at Notre Dame School. She helped create the Notre Dame library. She volunteered with the AARP Tax Aide program, and numerous other service organizations. In 1996, she was named an Outstanding Woman of the Town of North Hempstead and added to the Women’s Roll of Honor for her contributions to the community. She served on the Library Board for the Village of New Hyde Park and was instrumental in the building of the new Library.

Bill Bauer was born and raised in Staten Island. During WWII, he enlisted in the Navy and served on the USS Euryale in the Pacific theater. When the war ended, he was honorably discharged as a Chief Petty Officer. He attended Pace Institute and pitched on the Pace baseball team. He spent most of his career working for Newmont Mining Company and retired as the Purchasing Manager after a 35+ year career. Bill had a passion for baseball. He was an avid Mets fan and coached and managed baseball teams with the Merillon Little League. He was a faithful usher at Notre Dame Church, and after retirement, he volunteered at St Francis Hospital for over 30 years. Bill was a very kind man; he always saw the best in everyone.

Ruth and Bill left an enduring legacy in their community through their volunteer work, their faith and their service to the community.

In lieu of flowers donations to the Guide Dog Foundation and the USO would be appreciated.

Read the full obituary on the Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Homes, Inc. website.