Remembering the Life and Legacy of Ranger Betty Reid Soskin
She was a true trailblazer, a pioneer, and an inspiration to thousands. Yet despite her monumental contributions, not everyone knew her name or fully understood the depth and scope of her life’s work
Today, we take a moment to honor Betty Reid Soskin—a woman whose life story reads like a chronicle of modern American history, told from the perspective of someone who lived it firsthand.
Betty Reid Soskin, the oldest living National Park Service ranger until her passing on December 21, 2025, was 104 years old.
Her final moments, surrounded by loved ones, reflected the life she had led: intentional, full, and profoundly meaningful.
In a statement released by her family on Sunday morning, they described her passing with reverence: she “led a fully packed life and was ready to leave.” And indeed, her life was extraordinary
A Life of Firsts and Barriers Broken
Soskin’s story was one of breaking barriers and reclaiming forgotten histories. As a civil rights activist, historian, and storyteller, she dedicated more than a century to highlighting narratives that had long been ignored or erased.
Her tenure with the National Park Service (NPS) officially began at age 84, a time when most people are well into retirement, and she continued working until 2022, when she retired at 100 years old.
That alone made her the oldest active ranger in NPS history, but her influence extended far beyond any job title.
Long before her ranger uniform, Soskin played a pivotal role in shaping the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California.
She collaborated closely with city officials and NPS planners to develop a management plan that ensured the stories of African Americans and other people of color—historically absent from the narrative of World War II—were finally recognized.
Her advocacy for inclusivity ensured that the park was not only a commemoration of wartime effort but also a testament to social justice and historical accuracy.
Through a grant funded by PG&E, she spearheaded projects to uncover untold stories of Black Americans who contributed to the World War II home front.
Her work transformed interpretive programs at the park, providing visitors with a nuanced understanding of the era.
