Josephine T. Langworthy

Josephine T. (Cunningham) Langworthy, 88, of Hope Valley, R.I., Hopkinton Town Clerk from 1974 to 1988, went home to be with her Lord Tuesday, Jan. 3, at Shady Acres Nursing Home in West Kingston, where she had been a resident for 18 months.
Born in the Boston suburb of Lynn, Mass., on Nov. 23, 1923, to the late Arthur J. and Augusta B. (Sheen) Cunningham, she was the youngest of seven children. Josie, as she was called by her many friends, graduated from Lynn English High School and Burdett College. After college, she worked for the General Electric Labor Union. In 1947, she married Joseph A. Langworthy Jr. of Hope Valley, who was a professional baseball player in the Boston Red Sox organization.
Her lifetime was spent serving people of Hopkinton and Washington County. Prior to being elected as Hopkinton Town Clerk, she worked for several years as an administrator in the clerk's office and for the tax assessor's department. At one time, Josephine was the assistant librarian at Hope Valley School in the 1950s, and she also worked in the principal's offices at Richmond and Hope Valley schools. She was the treasurer for Pine Grove Cemetery for many years; a Cub Scout den mother; an officer and board member of the Hopkinton Historical Society; past board member of the Langworthy Public Library where she was active in the library archives; South County Tourism representative; and a Certified Municipal Clerk.
Josephine devoted much of her life to service through various ministries at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hope Valley where she had been member since 1951. She served as a charter member of the Rosary Altar Society, Meals-On-Wheels and as a Eucharist Minister.
In 1987, Josie received national notoriety when the New York Times ran a special interest story about the $25 annual "bounty" established by the Hopkinton Town Council for woodchucks who had ravished area gardens around the turn of the century.
She is survived by her son, Joseph A. and daughter-in-law, Matilda E. Langworthy, of Canton, Ohio, and daughter, Nancy L. Clarke, of Hope Valley. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph A. Langworthy Jr., and son, George Robert Langworthy. Also preceding her in death were brother, Arthur J. Cunningham, and sisters, Florence Cunningham, Ora Jane Hoffman, Augusta Hicks, Mary Ann McGovern and Birdie Roach, all of Lynn, Mass. Josie leaves behind six grandchildren, Matthew J. and wife, Christen Clarke, Daniel R. and wife, Kristin Clarke, and Andrew J. and wife, Laura Clarke, all of Hope Valley, Annissa R. Langworthy, of Canton, Ohio, Morgan W. and wife, Kate Langworthy, of Columbus, Ohio, and Erica V. Langworthy, of New York City; six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She will be remembered for a perpetual pleasant smile and friendly warm disposition.
Calling hours are at Avery Funeral Home on Main Street in Hope Valley from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday. Saturday a 10 a.m. funeral will be held at the funeral home followed by an 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial nearby at St. Joseph's Church with internment at Wood River Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Shady Acres Nursing Home, 415 Gardner Road, West Kingston, RI 02892 Attn: Rene Brouchu.