Ruth Rodale Spira, 89, of Coopersburg, co-founder and co-chairwoman of Lutron Electronics, died Aug. 31, 2019, in Allentown. She was the wife of the late Joel Spira, Lutron chairman, co-founder and director of research who died in 2015. They were married for 60 years. She was the daughter of J.I. and Anna (Andrews) Rodale.

She received a bachelor’s degree in botany from Wellesley College and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Muhlenberg College.

Following her graduation, she joined Rodale Press which was founded by her parents. In time, she became editor of Organic Gardening and Farming and saved up her money for a trip of a lifetime. An adventurous person even at age 26, she traveled to Paris in the 1950s as a single woman (which was almost unheard of at the time). During her trip to Paris, she became fluent in French and developed a love of French and Asian food. Upon her return she settled in New York and became a researcher for an encyclopedia company. Soon after, she met her husband and enjoyed their life in New York.

She continued her love of Chinese and European food and hosted many cooking dinner parties for their family and friends.

She and her husband started Lutron in their Upper West Side Manhattan apartment. Together, they grew Lutron from a local Coopersburg-based entrepreneurial business that sold two products, to the global leader in lighting and shading controls. In the early days, she was hands on in the quality control area making sure all products were properly tested. As a leader of the company, she advocated for the highest quality in both product and communications. She created and implemented Lutron’s familial culture of inclusiveness and community, welcoming everyone through the door as family.

She established Lutron’s marketing communications department in 1982 and went on to develop much of Lutron’s marketing materials.

For decades, she was active with numerous organizations, including the Allentown Art Museum, the Allentown Arts Commission, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, and the Lehigh Valley Wellesley College group.

She previously served as a trustee for Cedar Crest College and as a board member for the DeSales University Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. She was an active member of Lutron’s advisory council.

She co-founded Subarashii Kudamono (Japanese translation: Wonderful Fruit), a Lehigh Valley-based grower and producer of Asian pears. She loved her family and upheld numerous traditions including Wednesday movie night with Joel. With a passion for international food and travel, she had a passion for cooking and published Naturally Chinese: Healthful Cooking for China in 1977.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan and son-in-law, Pekka Hakkarainen, her daughter, Lily and son-in-law, Ryan Housler, daughter Juno, grandson, Ari Hakkarainen and his wife, Nicole, grandsons Max Hakkarainen and Bailey Malanczuk, sister, Nina Houghton, sister-in-law Miriam Poser and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by parents and brother, Robert.

Contributions may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association, 131 Parkinson Ave, Staten Island, N.Y., 10305 or www.apdaparkinson.org.

Services will be private. Arrangements entrusted to the Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Home, Allentown.