Obituary - RUTH GOLDHAR

Submitted by family

Ruth “Billie” Goldhar, 96, of Longwood, Fla., passed away on Aug. 29, 2020. She was born on Sept. 28, 1923 to the late Joseph and Naomi Lehman in Chicago. She was married to the late David Goldhar for 61 years.

Ruth and David moved to the Orlando area in 1956. She worked for the State of Florida for 30 years as an administrative assistant, where she helped many people with spinal chord and brain injuries rehabilitate so they were able to work.

Ruth was very proud of her Jewish heritage and supported many Jewish agencies. She was a member of Temple Israel for many years where she was a Sunday school teacher from 1956 - 1962 and was active in the Sisterhood. She was in both the Temple Israel and Ohev Shalom choirs. She was a Levi and enjoyed being called to the Torah on many Shabbats and holidays. She even became a bat mitzvah as a senior citizen.

Ruth was a Life Member of Hadassah, where she held multiple leadership positions. She attended the JCC and was an active member of the 39ers. She was also a 2014 Honoree of Kinneret’s 8 over 80.

Fourteen years ago, Ruth moved into the Village on the Green where she was a staple of the community. Always with a smile and warm greeting, she made it her mission to make sure everyone who came to the Village felt welcome. She was on their welcoming committee, was a Building Rep and enjoyed playing Bingo, Bridge and Mahjong with her friends and neighbors.

Ruth is survived by her daughters, Dr. Sharon Flatow of Lake Mary and Jaclyn (Rabbi Moshe) Elbaz of Valdosta, Ga.; grandchildren — Sandra Flatow, Michael Flatow, Shuli (Gabriel) Mesa, Yamit (Adam) Rashkind, and Jonathan Elbaz; great- grandchildren — Noah, Jonah, Evyn and Elijah Mesa, and Ethan, David and Ari Rashkind; and nieces, Alice and Betsy Jacobson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hadassah and The Jewish Pavillion of Central Florida.