Ruth (Davidson) Malcom, 89, formerly of Sawyer’s Island, Boothbay, passed away quietly on May 30 at the Gregory Wing, St. Andrews Village, Boothbay Harbor, where she had lived for several years.
She was born Oct. 28, 1918, in Louisville, Ky., one of identical twin daughters of Morris Way Davidson and Frances (Coleman) Davidson. She was a graduate of the University of Louisville, and of the Kent School of Social Work at U. of L., where she received her Master’s degree.
Ruth began her career as a social worker in Atlanta, Ga., and it was there that she met a young psychologist, Edward Vartan Malcom. They were married June 1, 1949. Their jobs took them to Ann Arbor, Mich., Falls Church and Williamsburg, Va., Scarsdale, N.Y., the island of Saipan, and eventually Augusta, and finally Boothbay, where they retired. Even then, they continued their professional activities, which included teaching at the college level and clinical work as Coastal Consultants. They saw clients privately – sometimes separately, sometimes together, and sometimes over the lunch table at one of their favorite restaurants, Everybody’s, No Anchovies, or Ebb Tide.
Ruth and Ed were faithful members of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Wiscasset for some 27 years, where they had many friends. They always helped with the chowder suppers in the summer, and Ruth was never without her sewing bag, from which emerged countless handmade aprons and other goods for church fairs or for family gifts.
In addition, Ruth became an ardent genealogist and left many notebooks of information, especially having to do with Scots in America, as that was her heritage. She could often be found at the genealogy table at Highland Games, in the summer, helping inquirers to find out about their families. Throughout their retirement years, Ruth and Ed made annual visits to Switzerland, where his mother was born and cousins remained. They loved the country and, as always, made many close new friends.
Ruth was predeceased by her beloved husband, Edward V. Malcom and by her twin sister, Jane Davidson Reid.
She is survived by her niece Jane (Laurie) Reid McAnulty of Worthington, Mass.; three great-nieces, Elizabeth McAnulty of Easthampton, Mass., Zoe McAnulty of Randolph, Mass., and Sarah McAnulty of Conway, Mass.; three great-great-nieces; a great-great-nephew; first cousin, Ann Gurley of Bradenton, Fla.; and by dear friends and almost-relatives, Eleanor and Isaac Reid of Amherst, Mass.
Celebration of Ruth’s life Wed., 11 a.m., June 11 at St. Columba’s Episcopal Church on Emery Lane in Boothbay Harbor. Burial will be in the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Philips Episcopal Church, 12 Hodge Rd., Wiscasset, ME 04578 or St. Columba’s Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 301, Damariscotta, ME 04538.
Arrangements are entrusted to Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home, Boothbay.
