FRANKLIN – Ruth Wilbur Archer Murphy, 91, passed away unexpectedly Jan. 4, 2007, at an Ellsworth health care facility. She was born Jan. 11, 1915, in Franklin, the daughter of Lyman and Bessie (Jordan) Wilbur. Ruth attended Franklin High School and Washington County Normal School, where she received her teaching degree and later received her Bachelor’s degree from Washington County Teachers College. She taught many years in schools throughout Maine, (starting in one room school houses), retiring from teaching in 1968. Ruth was a member of the Franklin Grange for more than 75 years, a member of the Franklin Historical Society, the Franklin High School class reunion committee, and Franklin Library. Ruth was predeceased by her husbands, Carrol Archer and Ralph Murphy; son, Philip Archer; sister, Charlotte Buzzell; brother-in-law, Larry; grandson, Michael Alteri Jr.; granddaughter, Carol Young Clark. She is survived by seven children, Donald Archer and his wife, Sally, of Utah, Christine Young and her husband, Dana, of Franklin, Robert Archer and his wife, Andrea, of Surry, Lyman Archer and his wife, Joan, of Franklin, Faye Jordan and her husband, Richard, of Prospect Harbor, Diane Woods of Winterport and Beverly Alteri and her husband, Michael, of Franklin; 17 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, three stepchildren and their families. A visitation for family and friends will be 6-8 p.m. Tuesday Jan. 9, at Bragdon-Kelley-Campbell Funeral Home, 215 Main St., Ellsworth, where funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Jan. 10, with the Rev. Robert Maddocks officiating. Burial will be after in the family lot at Sunnyside Cemetery, Eastbrook. Donations in Ruth’s memory may be made to the Ronald McDonald House, 654 State St., Bangor, ME 04401 or the Mary Dow Cancer Center, 50 Union St., Ellsworth, ME 04605. www.bragdonkelley.com
RUTH WILBUR ARCHER MURPHY
