Mary Ruth has been married to Loren Wilkinson, Regent College professor emeritus, since 1965. They joined the faculty at Regent College in 1981. For many years Mary Ruth taught a popular course called Books, Children and God. She wrote (with her daughter Heidi) A Time to Read: Good Books for Growing Readers.

In 1988 they moved to a community-owned farm on Galiano Island. From their home on Galiano she and Loren have organized and taught together Wilderness, Technology and Creation (the “Boat Course”); Food: Creation, Community, Communion; and Gardening the City of God. They have written together the book Caring for Creation in Your Own Backyard. Loren and Mary Ruth have two grown children, three grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.