Ruth H. Holmes

Ruth Houghton Holmes, 93, passed away peacefully on September, the 17th, 2012. Ruth had been living at Ocean View in Falmouth, but was previously a resident of Bryant Pond.

Ruth was predeceased by the three great loves of her life. Ensign Stanley Allen who was killed in Pearl Harbor, Evans Franklyn Houghton who passed on in 1974 and Dunbar Holmes who passed on in 1997. Ruth was also predeceased by her Brother Richard.

Ruth is is survived by her brother ,Robert Mortensen of California; by all five of her children, Stanley of California, Charles of Massachusetts, Eleanore (husband Paul) of Bryant Pond, Maine, John of Massachusetts and Richard (wife Edcille) of Ohio. Ruth is also survived by her stepchildren, Evalyn Hansen of Oregon, William Holmes (wife Q) of Massachusetts, Graham Holmes (wife Jody Newton) of Massachusetts and Lincoln Holmes (wife Holly) also of Massachusetts.

Ruth leaves grandchildren Adam Houghton and Henry Mortensen, and step grandchildren Marion Holmes, Brad Holmes, Jordan Holmes, Lucas Holmes, Tao Tao Holmes, Patrick Beaton, Tasha Moreau and Cole Robinson.

Ruth was a first generation American, as her father, Richard Andreas Mortensen, came over from Norway on a sailing ship in 1895. Ruth’s mother, Maude Lyle’s family, had come from Scotland by way of Jamaica where they had lived for several generations.

Ruth was educated at Centenary College and at Radcliff College and was a professional woman most of her life. Ruth broke the “glass ceiling” in the '60s when she was named to the Board of Directors of Elm Farm Foods. Among her recent jobs were Director of Communications for Andover Newton Theological School and Director of Communications for Concord Hospital in New Hampshire.

Ruth led an active life serving on the Board of the Appalachian Mountain Club in New Hampshire and climbing most of New Hampshire’s higher peaks. Ruth was also widely traveled and visited Scotland, England, Austria, Norway, Japan, Hawaii and Alaska.

Ruth’s mind remained sharp until the day of her death and she will be greatly missed. In Lieu of Flowers donations may be made in her name to the organization “Doctors without Borders.”

A celebration of her life will be held in Bethel sometime in October.