Ruth G. Howe

Ruth G. (Dubord) Howe, formerly of Wilmington and Tewksbury Massachusetts, Ft. Myers, Florida, and more recently of Greenville and Milford NH, died on June 13, 2010 at The Elms Care & Rehabilitation Center, Milford, after a lengthy illness. A devoted wife of 67 years, she was the widow of the late Leland R. Howe who passed away on April 8, 2009. Ruth loved spending time with her family, plus sewing, camping, canoeing, gardening, ice skating, roller skating and singing. Ask any of her Grandchildren and they will tell you how “Nana” could whistle a tune! Ruth had a beautiful voice, and enjoyed performing with the local chorus when she and Lee lived in Ft. Myers. Born in Somerville Ma, she was the daughter of the late Louis and Ruth (Leavitt) Dubord. She moved to Wilmington as a child, and in her teens she met “the love of her life” Leland (Lee) Howe, also of Wilmington. They married and Lee went off to war. Upon his return they remained in Wilmington with their two young daughters, until 1955, when they moved to Tewksbury, just before the birth of their third daughter. They lived in Tewksbury until Lee’s retirement in 1986, when they began to fulfill their lifelong dream of traveling the U.S. during the warm months, and then wintering in Florida. They returned to New England in 1996 and settled in Greenville, NH. Ruth was a devoted wife for 67 years. Ruth was one of seven children, and is survived by her sister, Charlotte M. Timlin of Kittery Point, Maine, her brother-in-law Francis Lascelles of Exeter NH, and her sister-in-law Martha Howe of Wilmington, Ma. Ruth leaves behind her three daughters and their husbands, Judith Farinha and her husband, Pete of Nashua, Paulette Braffitt and her husband, Peter of Milford, and Brenda Hammar and her husband, Rick of Pelham. She leaves a total of four generations including her three daughters, ten grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren, and seven great-great grandchildren, plus many nieces, nephews, and cousins. A memorial service celebrating Ruth’s life will be held at 11:00 o’clock on Monday, June 28th, at the United Methodist Church, 327 North River Road, Milford, NH. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Milford, followed by a luncheon at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruth’s name to: Alzheimer's Association MA/NH, 311 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472. Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH, is handling arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com Ruth will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.