Ruth Crost, 75, an art therapist from Wilmette, died Sunday at North Shore Hospice of Evanston. Born in Chicago, Mrs. Crost graduated with a bachelor of fine arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. For a short while, she put her artistic skills to professional use, painting abstract acrylics and showing them at Chicago area art galleries. But in the mid-1950s she began teaching art to people who were experiencing psychological problems. For nearly two decades she worked in the art therapy department at the Glen Oaks Nursing Home. In 1988, she received the Governor’s Award for her efforts in art therapy. Mrs. Crost also was an accomplished singer, whose soprano solos won her several local contests. Survivors include two sons, Larry and Lee. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Jewish Waldheim Cemetery, 18th Street and Harlem Avenue, Forest Park.
