Ruth Colegrove Keith

SOUTH ORLEANS —

Ruth Colegrove (DuBose) Keith, 88, passed away peacefully on Nov. 12, 2008, after a brief illness, surrounded by family and devoted caregivers at Rosewood Manor.

She was the daughter of the late Wright T. and Ethel B. Colegrove and wife of the late Thomas Dubose and Paul Keith.

Ruth grew up in Burlington, Vt., where she graduated from Burlington High School in 1938. She played the saxophone in the school band and played basketball. After graduation, she attended Burlington Business College and later became employed by the Howard National Bank in Burlington.

In 1944, she met and married Lt. Thomas Dubose of Milwaukee, Wis., who served in World War II as a Navy pilot. He was killed in a plane crash over Africa six months after their marriage.

Ruth then moved to Boston, where she joined the American Red Cross. She was stationed at Chelsea Naval Hospital until the end of the war. In 1948, she went to work for American Airlines. It was then she met and married Paul Keith of Brockton. Paul had just returned from the Pacific, having served as a Marine. They settled in Brockton/Bridgewater and had four daughters. Paul died just 12 years after their marriage, at which time Ruth took necessary steps to educate herself in order to manage the two family-owned insurance agencies.

In 1969, having sold the insurance businesses, Ruth moved to Cape Cod with her children, and was hired by the Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank. She worked in many capacities there until her retirement in 2002.

A devoted mother and grandmother, she also loved to be with her animals and music. Early inclinations as a saxophone player in the BHS Band, to later accomplishments with the piano, Ruth used music as a natural expression of patriotism, vitality and companionship when a piano was nearby. Classical, pop and big band music came easily to her fingertips, made all the better by close friends and family at the keyboard.

Her steadfast nature, and a need to be independent the majority of her years, she could always be counted on to be a mainstay at any gathering with her quick wit as well as her dry and measured remarks, which were still appreciated in her last days.

She was a true Colegrove from Vermont, as she lived by her creed: "Eat it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." Vermont roots notwithstanding, she was very proud of her Keith heritage.

She is survived by four daughters, Louisa Keith MacPherson of Harwich, Cynthia Keith Sutphin of Harwich, Sarah Keith Verfaillie of Texas and Maine, and Susanna Keith of Maine; 10 loving grandchildren, Carolyn, Timothy, Keith and Anna Clark, Sadie, Cordelia, and Mirabai Verfaillie, Malaney, Colin and Paul Cassano; a sister, Edith C. Noyes of Bedford; and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of her life will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution to the Animal Rescue League, Route 6A, Brewster MA 02631.

Nickerson Funeral Home

508-255-0259