Ruth and Joe Levin Family Papers

Joe Levin was born near Kobryn, Russia around 1891 and immigrated to America in 1911. Upon his arrival in Chicago, he used a pushcart to sell dry goods in the Midwest. Joe was a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and was sent to Savannah in 1918 by the U.S. Government to work as a carpenter in the shipyards during World War I. Joe married Ida Adrezin around 1920 and they had three children: Max (1921-1989); Irving (1923-1980) and Zena (1928-2016). Joe opened a dry goods store, Joe Levin & Company, on West Broad Street in Savannah in 1919. Joe remained a well-known member of the Savannah business community until he retired and closed the store in 1978 after being in business for 59 years. Ida Levin died in 1931 during childbirth along with the baby. In 1933, Joe married Ruth Levinson who had immigrated from Poland following World War I. Ruth and Joe had two daughters, Joan (1934) and Iris (born 1944). During World War II, Irving served on Iwo Jima as a member of the U.S. Army. Joe was a founding member of the Workmen’s Circle Credit Union of Savannah and the Levins were active members of the B’nai Brith Jacob Synagogue. Joe passed away in 1980 and Ruth in 1990.