Ruth Detreville Spieler

BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA - Ruth de Treville Spieler died peacefully on her birthday, January 15, 2013, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.  Born in Beaufort, South Carolina, on January 15, 1927, the daughter of the late B. Ellis de Treville Sr. and Ruth Claghorn Saffold de Treville, she was a true Beaufort native. Miss Ruth, as she was fondly known to so many, grew up in NYC, where she attended St. Agnes Chapel School, The Semple School, and later graduated from Gardner High School in 1945, which was located in the Hotel Plaza Penthouse on 5th Avenue.  She attended Columbia University from 1945 to 1949.  Her family visited Beaufort each summer for most of her life, until moving here permanently in 1967. She remained here for her lifetime, helping her devoted late husband, Gerhard Spieler, research and write about Beaufort's 400 plus years of history. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Gerhard Spieler in July  2012;  her first husband, William F. Richter, a son, William deTreville Richter, and a brother, B. Ellis de Treville, jr .  She is survived by her beloved daughter, Jeannette Neal (Rick) of Beaufort, and his daughter Nicole Neal, of Savannah, Ga,  a brother, Dr. Robert T.P. deTreville  (Jan) of San Antonio, Texas, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Miss Ruth was a member of St. Helena's Episcopal Church, and was former president of The Beaufort Tours & Enterprises. She founded the Heritage Society of Beaufort over 20 years ago, and the annual Heritage Luncheon is still held every year. In 2009, Ruth and her husband Gerhard Spieler received a Special Lifetime Achievement Award from Beaufort County Historical Society.  In September of 2012, she received a 60 year award from the Daughters of the Revolution.





Her memberships included First Families of South Carolina, Society of Mayflower Descendants, Jamestown Society, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames, and Daughters of Cincinnati. A memorial service for Ruth de Treville Spieler will be held at St. Helena's Episcopal Church in downtown Beaufort at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, January 29th, 2013, followed by a reception at the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to United Hospice Foundation, 1605 North St. Beaufort, SC 29902.