Peale, Ruth Stafford (b. 1906)

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Peale, Ruth Stafford (b. 1906)

American church leader. Born Ruth Stafford, Sept 10, 1906, in Fonda, IA; dau. of a Methodist minister in Detroit; attended Syracuse University; m. Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993, minister); children: John Stafford Peale, Elizabeth Peale Allen, Margaret Peale Everett.

Served as national president of women's board of domestic missions of Reformed Church of America (1936–46, 1955–56), national president of Home Missions Council (1942–44), and in various capacities at Foundation for Christian Linguistics (1940); served as 1st woman president of National Board of North American Missions (NBNAM, 1967–69) and 1st woman chair of program and planning committee of National Council of Churches General Assembly (1966); with husband, became founder and publisher of Guideposts (interfaith monthly magazine, 1940s) and served as its chair (1992–2003); with husband, founded Peale Center for Christian Living.

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