Ruth Blanchard Spencer
November 25, 1921 — July 17, 2015
Ruth Blanchard Spencer
RUTH B. SPENCER
LITTLETON – Ruth Virginia Blanchard Spencer, a longtime resident of Littleton, passed away Friday, July 17, 2015, at Concord Hospital. She was 93.
Ruth was born in Portland, Maine on November 25, 1921, the older daughter of Morris and Dorothea (Pride) Blanchard, and sister to Marjorie Blanchard Rollins of Raymond, Maine.
She grew up in Portland, Maine and had a genuine passion for all things Maine – lobster, blueberries, B&M baked beans and the ocean. She loved the water and enjoyed swimming, water skiing, and canoeing, and was quite skilled at walking the gunnels of her canoe without toppling into the water. She graduated from Westbrook Junior College in Portland, Maine and the University of Maine in Orono with a degree in business education.
As Ruth embarked on her teaching career, one of the first teaching positions she held was in Whitefield, New Hampshire. Through a serendipitous encounter, she ended up meeting John W. Spencer of Littleton, and, on May 27, 1951, they married. They were married for 43 years and had three children: William, Robert and Shelley.
While John completed his studies at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Ruth taught business classes at LaSalle Junior College in Newton, Massachusetts. Upon completion of John's degree, Ruth and John moved back to Littleton; she became a business teacher at Littleton High School, and he became a pharmacist at the Spencer Drugstore on Main Street. Throughout her teaching career, Ruth positively influenced a number of students through her teaching of typing, shorthand, and business classes, as well as her involvement in special class trips overseas. Several of the trips included a visit to Greece, a country with a rich history and culture that held a special place in her heart. She taught at Littleton High School from 1966 until her retirement in 1981.
Ruth was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, an honorary educational society, and was active in the Littleton community. She loved her family and friends dearly, was a voracious reader, and enjoyed sewing, needle pointing, and crafting.
She was predeceased by the love of her life, her husband, John W. Spencer, on May 21, 1994. Ruth is survived by her children, William B. Spencer and wife Nancy of Littleton; Robert J. Spencer and wife Lori of Lancaster; and Shelley (Spencer) Fillion and husband Wayne of Littleton; eight grandchildren; four great grandchildren; a niece; and her sister Marjorie Rollins of Raymond, Maine.
SERVICES -- A celebratory memorial service will be held Wednesday, July 29, at 11 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Littleton with Pastor Shannon Keeney officiating, followed by a reception.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Littleton Public Library, 92 Main St., Littleton, NH 03561, in the memory of Ruth Spencer.
LITTLETON – Ruth Virginia Blanchard Spencer, a longtime resident of Littleton, passed away Friday, July 17, 2015, at Concord Hospital. She was 93.
Ruth was born in Portland, Maine on November 25, 1921, the older daughter of Morris and Dorothea (Pride) Blanchard, and sister to Marjorie Blanchard Rollins of Raymond, Maine.
She grew up in Portland, Maine and had a genuine passion for all things Maine – lobster, blueberries, B&M baked beans and the ocean. She loved the water and enjoyed swimming, water skiing, and canoeing, and was quite skilled at walking the gunnels of her canoe without toppling into the water. She graduated from Westbrook Junior College in Portland, Maine and the University of Maine in Orono with a degree in business education.
As Ruth embarked on her teaching career, one of the first teaching positions she held was in Whitefield, New Hampshire. Through a serendipitous encounter, she ended up meeting John W. Spencer of Littleton, and, on May 27, 1951, they married. They were married for 43 years and had three children: William, Robert and Shelley.
While John completed his studies at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Ruth taught business classes at LaSalle Junior College in Newton, Massachusetts. Upon completion of John's degree, Ruth and John moved back to Littleton; she became a business teacher at Littleton High School, and he became a pharmacist at the Spencer Drugstore on Main Street. Throughout her teaching career, Ruth positively influenced a number of students through her teaching of typing, shorthand, and business classes, as well as her involvement in special class trips overseas. Several of the trips included a visit to Greece, a country with a rich history and culture that held a special place in her heart. She taught at Littleton High School from 1966 until her retirement in 1981.
Ruth was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, an honorary educational society, and was active in the Littleton community. She loved her family and friends dearly, was a voracious reader, and enjoyed sewing, needle pointing, and crafting.
She was predeceased by the love of her life, her husband, John W. Spencer, on May 21, 1994. Ruth is survived by her children, William B. Spencer and wife Nancy of Littleton; Robert J. Spencer and wife Lori of Lancaster; and Shelley (Spencer) Fillion and husband Wayne of Littleton; eight grandchildren; four great grandchildren; a niece; and her sister Marjorie Rollins of Raymond, Maine.
SERVICES -- A celebratory memorial service will be held Wednesday, July 29, at 11 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Littleton with Pastor Shannon Keeney officiating, followed by a reception.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Littleton Public Library, 92 Main St., Littleton, NH 03561, in the memory of Ruth Spencer.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruth Blanchard Spencer, please visit our flower store.
Past Services
A Celebratory Memorial Service
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Starts at 11:00 am
First United Methodist Church
Guestbook
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