RUTH PINGREE KNOWLES

DEXTER – Ruth Pingree Knowles, 97, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Feb. 16, 2009, at Dexter Health Care. She was born Feb. 1, 1912, in Parkman, a daughter of Jesse and Annie (Richardson) Nutting. Her mother passed away soon after her birth and she was brought up by Auntie Leighton. Ruth often told that upon her birth, she was so small that she fit in a shoebox and was kept warm in a woodstove oven. She was a graduate of Guilford High School, was a member of First Baptist Church of Dexter and also attended Pleasant Street Christian Church of Corinna. Ruth was a 50-year member of Dexter Grange and a member of the Golden Age Club of Dexter. She spent many summers at Rumney Bible Camp, New Hampshire. She was an avid fisherman and enjoyed many hours with her friends, Youla Towle, Bea Call, Georgina Burton and Kathleen Hanson, on the pier at Moosehead Lake, Greenville. She is also survived by a special friend, Arlene Anderson. Ruth loved her camp on Big Indian Lake, St. Albans, and enjoyed card games, basketball and loved playing miniature golf. Ruth worked as a cook at Sweetser Children’s Home, Saco and Plummer Memorial Hospital, Dexter. She was also employed at Snow Flake Canning Co., Corinna. Ruth lived at Elizabeth House, Dexter, for three years. She is survived by two sons, Keith and wife, Leola, of Dexter, and Jesse and wife, Marion Pingree, of Ripley; six grandchildren, Jean Moreno, K. David, Roger K., Robert H., Paul and Kevin Pingree; and nine great-grandchildren, Adam and Jessica Moreno, Logan, Jared, Garrett, Ashley, Amanda, Bradley and Colleen Pingree. She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Lester Pingree; her second husband, Frank Knowles; a son, Robert; a daughter, Phyllis Street; three grandsons, Brian Street, Stephen and Mark Pingree; and by her beloved dog, Buffy. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, at Crosby & Neal, Dexter, with Pastor A. Maurice Neal officiating. Spring burial will be at Ferndale Cemetery, Ripley. Those who wish may sign an online guest register and leave written tributes at www.CrosbyNeal.com.