PATTEN – Ruth Anita Bustard Somers, 75, passed away Sept. 14, 2008, at Mountain Heights Healthcare Facility. She was born Nov. 29, 1932, in Smyrna Mills, the sixth child of seven children born to Hazen and Effie Bunting Bustard. Ruth graduated from Oakfield High School in 1950 and the University of Maine -Presque Isle in 1954, with a bachelor’s degree in education. Her teaching career was spent in Maine, Massachusetts, Germany and Virginia, where she retired after 28 years at Riverside Elementary School in 1989. Ruth was president of the Maine State Society, Washington, D.C., in 1980 and 1981. She also volunteered for the Red Cross, where she ran blood drive programs at Fort Belvoir, Va. She was a member of Washington Farm United Methodist Church, Mount Vernon, Va. Ruth was known for her intellect, love of adventure and her encouragement to young people to follow their dreams. Upon graduation from high school, she went to college on academic scholarships and traveled to Frankfurt, Germany, where she joined her husband, Spurgeon, serving in the U.S. Army. This was the first of their two European assignments, where Ruth immersed herself in the culture, taking classes in German and making friends of the locals and military families. She loved to travel and planned trips for her family that took them throughout Europe, with memorable vacations in Berlin and Austria. She especially enjoyed her later trip to Ireland to visit long-lost relatives with her mother and sister. Ruth loved teaching fifth grade and was one of the first gifted and talented and computer resource teachers for her school in Virginia. As president of the Maine State Society, she enjoyed organizing their Christmas dinner at Mount Vernon, Cherry Blossom festivities and initiating their scholarship program. Ruth is survived by her husband of 55 years, Spurgeon R. Somers of Alexandria, Va.; her daughter, Monica and her husband, Thomas Galloway, and grandchildren, Christina, Bryan, Laura and Elena of Fairfax Station, Va.; her son, Ricky Somers and his wife, Lynn, and granddaughter, Kari of East Millinocket; and her son, Steve Somers of Linden, Va. She is also survived by her brother, Carl Bustard of Oakland; sisters, Teresa Morkin of Jacksonville, Fla., Wilma Dwyer and her husband, Virgil, of Oakfield and Gail Thompson and her husband, Fred, of Caribou; many nieces and nephews; her mother-in-law, Annie Somers; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Lois Somers, Gene Somers and Donna Patterson, Marilyn Somers, Raymond and Glenda Somers, Dicky Somers, Sadie and Wayne Heath, Vickie and Steve Richardson. She was predeceased by her parents, Effie and Hazen Bustard; sister, Dorothy Bragdon; brother, Kenny Bustard; father-in-law, Spurgeon Somers; and brothers-in-law, Bobby Somers and Cecil Somers. Ruth had battled with Alzheimer’s for the last 10 years and spent the last three years at Mountain Heights Healthcare Facility, Patten. The family thanks her many compassionate caregivers there, and her friends and relatives who remembered her by dropping by to visit. Friends are invited to visit 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten, where funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 18 with the Rev. Regginal Adams and Steve Richardson officiating. Interment will be at Patten Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruth’s name to Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633 or online at www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp.