TEMPLE, N.H. – Ruth Hutcheson Runge, 80, died April 14, 2012, at Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, N.H. Born Sept. 6, 1931, in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., she was the daughter of John Hutcheson and Sarah (McDowell) Hutcheson.
She married John Runge, in 1958. The family moved to Temple, N.H., in 1976 after having lived for many years in Cold Spring, N.Y., where Ruth served as the secretary of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Runge was a homemaker and was very active in the Temple, N.H., community. She was a member of Temple Historical Society, Eastern Star and The Temple Ladies Aid, was a deacon of the church and a member of the church council. She was active in Wednesday Morning Coffee League at Bowling Acres, Peterborough, N.H. She will be remembered for her “Souper” luncheons at Temple Friendship Hall and her free “taxi service” around the area. Mrs. Runge enjoyed summers in Cooper and was a member of Cathance Lake Association. Aside from her biggest joy of raising her family and the time she spent with her husband, John, Ruth was proud of her time spent with Dorothy Turini, managing and operating Birchwood Inn Restaurant, Temple, N.H.
Ruth is survived by her two children, John D. Runge Jr. of Spring Grove, Pa., and wife, Jodi, and Dianne E. Fitch of Peterborough, N.H., and husband, Jeff; and her sisters, Sally Lincoln of Richardson, Texas, and Betty Wolfe of Avon Lake, Ohio. She will also be missed by her five grandchildren, Emerson Fitch, Jonathan Runge, James Fitch, Hannah Fitch and Matthew Runge; many nieces, nephews and good friends. She was predeceased by her husband, John D. Runge; and siblings, John Hutcheson, Marjorie Kimmel and Helen Faillace.
Services will be held 6 p.m. Thursday, April 19, at Congregational Church of Temple in New Hampshire. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cathance Lake Association, 50 Cathance Lane, Cooper, ME 04657 or New England Heart Institute at Catholic Medical Center, 100 McGregor St., Manchester, NH 03102. Jellison Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.