Ruth Ide

Ruth B. Ide 1920 - 2011 GREAT BARRINGTON Ruth B. Ide, 90, of Silver Street in Great Barrington died Sunday, May 29, 2011, at Fairview Commons Nursing Center in Great Barrington. Born Dec. 3, 1920, in Quebec, Canada, she was the daughter of Thomas Bishop and Betsy Andrew Bishop. Her family moved to Florence when she was 5 years old. She attended local schools and graduated from Northampton High School in 1938. She went on to graduate from Westbrook College in Portland, Maine, in 1942. In 1968 Ruth moved to Great Barrington from Pittsburgh, Pa. She worked as an Executive Secretary at Simon's Rock College in Great Barrington until her retirement in 1988. The Ruth B. Ide Good Sport Award was created by the graduating class of Simon's Rock College in 1973. It continues to be presented at commencement each year to a member of the support staff who has been especially helpful, generous and, in general, a "good sport." She was an active member of St. James Episcopal Church in Great Barrington. She was a member of the St. James Scholarship Committee and the Vestry of St. James. She was also a Junior Warden and a Senior Warden. Ruth was fondly known as the "scribe" of St. James for her diligence in writing to college students from the church as well as sending out birthday and anniversary cards to members of the congregation. Ruth is survived by her three sons, C. Geoffrey Ide and his wife Janet of Cranberry Township, PA, Thomas B. Ide and his partner Kati Allen of Austin, TX and Stephen P. Ide and his wife Carol of Egremont, MA. She also leaves 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one great, great-grandchild, as well as three nieces and two nephews. She was predeceased by her sister, Margaret "Peg" Sandstrom, her brothers, Russell and Keith Bishop, and her nephew, John Bishop. Ruth had a wonderful sense of honesty, decency, patience, warmth and humor that was apparent to everyone who had the pleasure to know her. She will be sorely missed. FUNERAL NOTICE: The family will receive friends on Saturday, June 4, 2011, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home in Great Barrington. Donations in memory of Ruth may be made to Saint James Episcopal Church through FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.