Ruth H. Whaland

Ruth H. Whaland, 98, resident of Milford, NH, formerly of Amherst, NH and Naples, FL, died on November 9, 2017 at her home. She was born in Newburyport, MA on January 25, 1919, the daughter of the late Greenleaf and Hazel (Lutes) Hopkinson. She attended local schools and Boston University. Mrs. Whaland had worked as a cost accountant for Towle Silversmiths and during World War II was manager of the lumber department of W.E. Aikinson Company, Newburyport, MA. She moved to NH in 1956 and from 1961-1971 was office manager and treasurer of Henderson and Whaland Insurance Agency, Nashua, NH. She had been active in the YWCA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Past President of Women’s Republican Club of Amherst and assistant treasurer of the State Organization. In addition, she was a former member of Nashua Country Club and Pine Lake Golf Club, Naples, FL. Her hobby and interest was in Historic Preservation. She and her husband Frank restored 4 historic homes in Amherst. She had a certificate in Historic Preservation and served from 1973-1983 on the State of New Hampshire Preservation Review Board for the National Register of Historic Places and a member of Gov. Thomson’s Advisory Board. She was a former member of the National Trust, S.P.N.E.A., New Hampshire Historical Society of NH Preservation Alliance, life member of Amherst Historical Society and Collier County Historical Society, Naples, FL. She also served on the first Historic District Commission in Amherst, a charter member and past president of Amherst Village Chapter of Questers and past president of the Neopolitan Chapter of Questers, Naples, FL. Mrs. Whaland was a member of Amherst Congregational Church, former trustee, life member and past president of the Woman’s Association. She was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Francis E. Whaland who died on January 8, 2005; and a brother, Albert W. Hopkinson II. She is survived by a daughter, Judi Whaland Dunbar of Milford, NH; a son, Robert G Whaland and his wife, Jeanette of Bow, NH; a granddaughter, Wendy Dunbar Valeri and her husband George of Lyndeborough, NH; two grandsons, Michael Whaland of Lancaster, NH and Jonathan Whaland of Bow, NH; one niece, Joyce Glionne of Malden, MA; grand nieces and grand nephews and the great grandson of her heart, Aiden Dunbar. A memorial service will be held on December 2nd at 11:00AM in the Amherst Congregational Church, 11 Church Street, Amherst, NH. Burial will be in Meadowview Cemetery, Amherst. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the NH Preservation Alliance, PO Box 268, Concord, NH 03302-0268 or Amherst Congregational Church Woman’s Association, 11 Church Street, Amherst, NH 03031. Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford.