Betty Reid Soskin lived a life that quietly reshaped how history is remembered and shared in the United States. She passed away peacefully at the age of 104, leaving behind a legacy defined by service, education, and honesty. At the time of her retirement, she was recognized as the oldest active ranger in the National Park Service, a role she carried with dignity and purpose. Her family shared that she departed fulfilled and surrounded by love, having devoted her life to helping others better understand the past.
Although Soskin officially retired in 2022 at age 100, her influence extended far beyond her years of formal service. Notably, she joined the National Park Service later in life, beginning her work in her eighties. She became a guiding voice at the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, where she helped ensure that the experiences of African Americans and other historically overlooked groups were included. Through her efforts, visitors were invited to engage with a more complete and balanced account of the wartime home front.
Born in 1921, Soskin experienced nearly a century of social and cultural change firsthand. During World War II, she worked under segregated conditions, an experience that shaped her lifelong commitment to fairness and inclusion. In the years that followed, she co-founded a neighborhood music store that grew into a cultural landmark and later served in public roles at the local and state level. Across each chapter of her life, she remained focused on representation, civic engagement, and community connection.
Even in her later years, Soskin continued to emphasize the value of historical awareness and thoughtful storytelling. When she received national recognition in 2015, she described the honor as both humbling and unexpected. While her passing marks the close of an extraordinary life, her work continues to resonate. Betty Reid Soskin did more than observe history—she helped shape how it is remembered, encouraging future generations to approach the past with curiosity, care, and integrity.