Ruth Paine, who opened her Texas home to Lee Harvey Oswald and shooed away conspiracies, dead at 92
Share this @internewscast.com

DALLAS (AP) — Ruth Paine, whose generosity towards Lee Harvey Oswald and his wife as a young mother near Dallas linked her unavoidably to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, has passed away at the age of 92.

Paine died on Sunday in a senior living facility in Santa Rosa, California, her daughter Tamarin Laurel-Paine said Thursday.

In the fall of 1963, Oswald’s wife and children were residing at Paine’s home in the Dallas suburb of Irving. Oswald spent the night at the house prior to the assassination and collected his rifle, which he had secretly stored in the garage, before heading to his job at the Texas School Book Depository — all unbeknownst to Paine.

Laurel-Paine mentioned her admiration for her mother’s readiness over the years to give interviews and make her voice heard. “She embraced the idea that her role was to be a witness to the history she knew, and she would assist any earnest inquiries,” Laurel-Paine stated.

Thomas Mallon, author of the book “Mrs. Paine’s Garage,” said Paine “was determined to tell the truth of her experience.”

“She endured many absurd assumptions that people had, who were bent on, in some way, involving her in the events that took place, and I believe she handled this very well, always politely, exhibiting significant strength of character,” remarked Mallon.

Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963, with shots fired from the Texas School Book Depository building as his motorcade concluded its route. Oswald, who was employed at the building, was apprehended by the police. It was believed that he had stationed himself on the sixth floor as a sniper.

Oswald’s Russian-born wife, Marina Oswald, and her two children had been lodging with Paine, a 31-year-old mother of two, who was living amicably separated from her husband that fall.

The two women had become friends earlier that year, and the living arrangement helped the struggling Oswalds while also giving Paine a chance to improve her Russian, which she had studied.

“Ruth’s intention was to help this young couple out,” Mallon said.

Lee Harvey Oswald, who was living in a rooming house near downtown, would usually visit his family at Paine’s house on the weekends. But on the day before the assassination, he made an unexpected mid-week visit to Paine’s home, where he’d tried unsuccessfully to reconcile with his wife after a fight a few days earlier.

Oswald suggested they begin living together again, but she told him that she and the children should stay with Paine through the holidays. The next morning, Oswald left behind his wedding ring and $170. Investigators said he carried with him a brown paper package holding a disassembled rifle.

Marina Oswald told the Warren Commission, which concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, that the rifle was among the possessions her husband had moved into Paine’s garage, storing it in a blanket there unbeknownst to Paine.

“She had no idea, Ruth, that the gun was in her garage, and no idea what was going to come,” Mallon said.

Mallon said that Paine once told him that though the assassination had had an “enormous impact on her life,” she did not let it “govern her life.” Paine “firmly believed” that Oswald had acted alone, Mallon said.

In the years after the assassination Paine became the principal of a small private Quaker school in the Philadelphia area, then got her master’s degree and worked for many years as a school psychologist in Florida before retiring and moving to California, Laurel-Paine said.

In 2013 — the 50th anniversary of the assassination — her former home in Irving opened as a museum re-creating the way it would have looked in 1963.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Trump immigration crackdown may eliminate 15M workers by 2035: Study

Study Projects Potential Loss of 15 Million Workers by 2035 Under Trump Immigration Policies

According to a newly released study, President Trump’s immigration policies are projected…
Medicare costs are rising in 2026. Here's how to save during open enrollment

Unlock Savings: Navigate Rising Medicare Costs with Expert Tips for 2026 Open Enrollment

According to a recent survey by NerdWallet, nearly 64% of Americans are…
McDonald's worker shoots customer in neck during 'McMess' altercation, Florida sheriff says

Florida McDonald’s Incident: Employee Allegedly Shoots Customer Amid Dispute, Reports Sheriff

A recent incident at a McDonald’s in Polk County, Florida, took a…
Simone Biles in Chicago: Olympic gymnast speaks with children in foster care system at Friends of the Children event in West Loop

Simone Biles Inspires Chicago’s Foster Youth: Olympic Legend Engages with Future Stars at Friends of the Children Event

In the Windy City, Olympic champion Simone Biles has become a familiar…
FBI investigates hunting stand with sight line to Trump's Air Force One exit area at Palm Beach airport

FBI Probes Suspicious Hunting Stand Overlooking Trump’s Air Force One Path at Palm Beach Airport

EXCLUSIVE: In a recent security sweep, the U.S. Secret Service identified a…
Former Catcher Jesús Montero dies after motorcycle crash

Tragic Motorcycle Accident Claims Life of Former MLB Catcher Jesús Montero

According to The Seattle Times, Jesús Montero was tragically struck by a…
'No Kings' protests take place in Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville Protests Ignite: ‘No Kings’ Movement Challenges Authority

Protesters took to the streets in Jacksonville on Saturday, showcasing an array…

Remembering Sam Rivers: Limp Bizkit Bassist’s Impactful Legacy Lives On at 48

Sam Rivers, the bassist and a founding member of the iconic band…
NTSB shares early findings in crash that killed country songwriter Brett James

Breaking: NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Fatal Crash Involving Renowned Country Songwriter Brett James

A preliminary report has surfaced, shedding light on the tragic accident that…
South African rowers of color become first to compete at Charles, part of larger trend toward access

Historic Breakthrough: South African Rowers of Color Make Waves at the Prestigious Charles Regatta

BOSTON (AP) — In a groundbreaking moment, a group of four rowers…
3 killed in US strike on Colombian ELN vessel smuggling narcotics, Hegseth says

U.S. Strike on Colombian ELN Vessel Results in 3 Fatalities Amid Narcotics Smuggling Crackdown, Reports Hegseth

In a significant operation targeting drug trafficking, three suspected narco-terrorists were killed…
State Department warns Hamas may violate ceasefire with attack on Palestinian civilians

State Department Alerts: Potential Ceasefire Breach by Hamas Threatens Palestinian Civilians

On Saturday, the U.S. Department of State issued a warning about “credible…