Ruth Becker Blanchard; Survivor of Titanic Sinking

Ruth Becker Blanchard, 90, who survived the sinking of the Titanic on April 14, 1912. The Titanic Historical Society listed her as one of the oldest remaining survivors of the historic sinking of the 882-foot-long ship after it struck an Atlantic iceberg on its maiden voyage. A 12-year-old girl at the time of the tragedy, she was separated from her family but remained calm and helped distribute blankets to those in shock. She was among 705 of the 2,200 people aboard who were picked up by another ship, the Carpathia. A teacher who had retired in California, Mrs. Blanchard had avoided ocean voyages since the Titanic disaster until last March when she took a cruise to Mexico. On Friday in Santa Barbara of the complications of old age.