Ruth E. Farquharson, obituary

Tue, 05/01/2018 - 8:15pm

ROCKLAND – Ruth E. Farquharson, 86, formerly of West Paterson, New Jersey, died peacefully, following a brief illness on Monday April, 23, 2018 at Knox Center for Long Term Care.  

Born in Clifton, New Jersey, she was the daughter of Frank 'Bert' and Ruth Anderson Richardson.  Educated in New Jersey, Ruth was a 1950 graduate of Clifton High School.  

Ruth was active with the Rainbow Girls, and served as the Grand Worthy Advisor for the State of New Jersey.  It was through this organization that she met her husband, James Farquharson.  After courting for several years, the two were married on January 1, 1954.  In the early years of their marriage, Ruth and Jim lived with her parents in Clifton before purchasing their own home in West Patterson in 1958.  

In the years that followed, Ruth devoted her life to her family, tending to the needs of her husband and two daughters.  Joining the work force when her youngest daughter began high school, Ruth worked first as a bank teller, and later completed a 17 year career as Personnel Manager at Neuman Wholesale Drug Company.  She retired from this position in 1996.  

Ruth believed in volunteering; she gave countless hours of her time to various activities in the Episcopal Church, at Mountainside Hospital, as a Girl Scout Leader, as a docent at the Crane House Museum and other activities.  Ruth and Jim were long time members of Christ Church in Totowa, NJ.

Ruth was talented as a baker, quilter, seamstress, and many types of needlework.  She loved to share her talents with others, making baked goods and handmade dolls for the church fair.  She enjoyed making clothes, quilts, dolls and costumes for her daughters and granddaughter.  She was never idle and always had a project underway.  

Together Ruth and Jim enjoyed traveling all over the United States, as well as memorable trips to Germany, Russia, England, Scotland and Alaska.  

Moving to Maine in 2010, Ruth and Jim made Rockland their home and became members of St John Baptist Episcopal Church in Thomaston, a church they had attended as visitors since 2001.

Ruth was kind and generous and liked by everyone she met.  She will be missed, and warmly remembered by many family and friends.

Predeceased by her sister, Jane Lindstrom; and a brother Frank 'Bert' Richardson; Ruth is survived by her husband, James Farquharson of Rockland; her daughters, Ruth Anne Hohfeld and her husband Wesley of South Thomaston, Cathleen Kilpatrick and her husband Todd of Bethlehem, PA; her sisters, Susan Thomas of Arkansas, Mary Grace of Florida; granddaughter Rose Valentine Hohfeld; and great-granddaughter Leda Valentine Peters.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 6, 2018 at Episcopal Church of St. John Baptist, 200 Main Street, Thomaston.  The Reverend Peter Jenks will officiate.  

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. John Baptist Outreach Fund, 200 Main Street, Thomaston, ME 04861.  

To share a memory or condolence with the Farquharson family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.