FARMINGTON -- Ruth Estella York, 96, of Wilton, died peacefully on Nov. 24, 2011, at the Orchard Park Living Center, following a short illness.
Ruth was born Dec. 25, 1914, in her family home in Wilton, to parents Dr. Albert Isaiah York and Maude Faeder York. Ruth graduated from Wilton Academy in 1932 and then attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where she studied violin, returning to Wilton two years later upon the death of her father.
Ruth lived the rest of her life in Wilton, working briefly as a hairdresser and then keeping house for her sister, Mary, who taught at Wilton Academy and Jay High School. During summers, Ruth and Mary enjoyed travelling in the United States and abroad, including a cross-country car trip to California and trips to Europe and Ireland, where it is rumored she kissed the Blarney Stone. They also immensely enjoyed staying at the family camp in Weld, where they spent time swimming, boating, and hiking.
Ruth was a lifetime member of the Wilton Congregational Church, Wilton Chapter of the Eastern Star, and the Wilton and Weld historical societies, as well as past secretary for the Wilton Public Library. Ruth enjoyed music of all kinds, playing for years in the UMF Community Orchestra and singing until this fall in the Wilton Congregational Church Choir. Ruth was also known for her fine reading voice, ability to recite poetry from memory, and her remarkable memory for fashion, often being able to relate in detail what people wore to events in times past.
Ruth will be remembered for her bubbly personality and sense of humor.
As she was the last surviving member of her generation, her family stories and knowledge of local history will be sorely missed. Her family would particularly like to thank her doctor, Linda Seabold, the nurses and staff of Orchard Park, and the Androscoggin Hospice team for their loving care during her final weeks.
Ruth was predeceased by her sister, Mary E. York, of Wilton; brother Dr. Albert I. York Jr., and nephew Bruce I. York, both of Mattapoisett, Mass. Survivors include her nieces, Priscilla York Dowd and Nancy B. York, both of Mattapoisett; her grand-niece, Megan and husband Bradley Adams, of Montclair, N.J.; grand-nieces Amy Dowd and Sandra York; grand-nephew Peter Dowd; and great-grandnephews Lincoln and Gibson Adams.
A celebration of Ruth's life will take place at the at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at Wilton Congregational Church. Those wishing may make contributions in Ruth's memory to the Wilton Congregational Church, P.O. Box 566; or the Wilton Historical Society, P.O. Box 33 of Wilton. Interment will take place in the spring at Lakeview Cemetery in Wilton. Arrangements are in care of the Wiles Remembrance Center, 136 High St., Wilton.
