Ruth Davis Ray passed away on June 5 comfortably in her own bed at The Garden in Brunswick after a loving visit with her daughter and niece.
Ruth was born on Jan. 5, 1924 in Keene, N.H. to Archie and Dorothy Davis. After graduating from Meredith High School, she went on to earn a degree in English from the University of New Hampshire. Ruth then joined a pioneering group of women newspaper reporters, working for the Hartford Courant. It was there she met her husband, Edward Roy Ray to whom she was married until his death in 2006. The couple raised two daughters, Susan and Betsy, living in West Hartford, Greens Farms, Westport and Fairfield, Conn.
Ruth was very proud of her college days during WWII and her work as a newspaper reporter. She also spent several years working as a reader for the English Department at Staples High School. In later years, Ruth volunteered with the Fairfield Audubon Society introducing inner city children to the wonders of nature. She then volunteered many years with the Pequot Library in Southport, Conn.
Ruth was a staunch liberal with a strong belief in equal rights for all. She relished reading, intellectual discussions, completing the Sunday New York Times crossword in ink, traveling and participating in Elderhostel learning adventures.
Ruth was predeceased by husband, Roy; brothers, Robert, Philip, and Richard Davis; in-laws, James and Ruthie Ray, Doris Davis, Dorothy Davis, and David and Margaret Gorman; and nephew, Thomas Davis.
She is survived by daughters, Susan (Larry) Jackson of Waldoboro and Betsey (Mark) Anderson of Union; nephews, James (Susan) Ray of Hartford, Conn., Andrew Davis of Pasadena, Cal., Philip (Leanne) Davis of Bloomington, Minn., and Stephen (Mary) Gorman of Norwich, Vt.; nieces, Rebecca Davis of Portsmouth, N.H., Ellen (Charles) Jaarsma of Dexter, and Liz (Mark) Gorman-Kritzman of Winchester, Mass.; as well as several great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great nieces, and great-great nephews.
A memorial graveside service will be held 11 a.m., Sat., Sept. 17 at the Orff’s Corner Community Cemetery in Waldoboro.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Pequot Library, 720 Pequot Ave., Southport, CT 06890-1496 in Ruth’s memory.
To extend online condolences, light a candle in Ruth’s memory, or to share a story or picture, please visit her Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com
Hall’s of Waldoboro has care of the arrangements.
