Ruth Schwob was born in Iowa on October 22, 1904, the daughter of Ida Friedlander and J. O. Schutzbank (or Schutzbaur). She died on June 17, 1981 and is buried in Riverdale Cemetery in Columbus, Georgia. She married Simon Schwob (1886-1954), who had founded the Schwob Manufacturing Company in Columbus in 1912. The company specialized in making men's clothing. She graduated from the University of Iowa in 1926 with a degree in Economics. After Simon's death in 1954, she became president of the firm and remained so until she sold the company in 1976.

Both the Schwobs were very active in their religious and civil communities. Music was Ruth Schwob's particular interest and among the many charities she supported, she founded the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University. The main library on the CSU campus is named for Simon Schwob.