Ruth Madeleine Frost

DATELINE: Waterbury Center VT/Littleton MA

Ruth Madeleine Frost – 100, passed away at her home in Waterbury Center VT surrounded by her family on December 17, 2003, her 100th birthday. Born in Cambridge MA, she was the daughter of the late Arthur L. and Marie A. (Putnam) Miles. On June 24, 1926, she married Sherman Clark Frost in Cambridge MA. Mr. Frost passed away in March 1956.

Ruth was a 1919 graduate of the Cambridge Latin School. She continued her education at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley MA graduating in 1925 with majors in Physiology and English. In the early 1930’s she studied at the Elliot Pearson School for Early Childhood Education at Tufts in Medford MA.

From 1925-26, Ruth taught at the Allen Normal School in Thomasville GA and from then until 1991 lived on a farm on Newtown Road in Littleton MA where she ran Colonial Orchards and a diversified farm with Sherman through the Great Depression, two hurricanes and two crop killing frosts. In addition, Ruth operated an early education program from her home starting in 1934, caring for as many as 43 children during WWII so that mothers could go to work. Once the community offered kindergarten, she continued to operate a nursery school, ending in the early 1980’s.

From 1943 – 1947, Ruth served as Chief Evacuation Officer for Littleton during WWII and during the 1950’s and 60’s, she was Christian Education Director at the Congregational Churches of Reading and Lunenburg MA. From 1950 – 55, Ruth served as Hostess at the Hospitality House in Ayer MA for the Massachusetts Council of Churches, coordinating potluck dinners, meetings, dances and recreational activities attended by servicemen stationed at Fort Devens during the Korean War.

Civic minded, Ruth served on the Littleton School Committee for nine years, organized and led a Campfire Girls group for fifteen years, served on the Board of the Women’s Club, was a member of the Littleton Historical Commission and was a life time member of the Littleton Conservation Trust. An active member of the Littleton Congregational Church, she served as a Deacon, Sunday School Superintendent and served as a Christmas Pageant Director. She was also an associate member of the Westmore (VT) Community Church.

In her leisure time, Ruth enjoyed writing poetry. She was well known for giving foster care to homeless animals and adopted many strays that found their way to her door. She spent as much time as possible at camp on Lake Willoughby in Westmore VT, enjoying this time with her family and friends climbing the surrounding mountains, swimming and canoeing from 1924 until well into her eighties.

In October 1991, Ruth moved to Vermont to be closer to her family. She is survived by her daughter, Prudence F. Baker of Waterbury Center VT; three grandchildren, Amity Baker of Waterbury Center VT, Joel Baker and his wife, Michelle and their children, Adrian and Marlena, of Waterbury Center VT; and Charity Baker of Burlington VT. She was predeceased by two sisters, Esther Miles and Alice Woodruff.

A Celebration of Ruth’s life will be held from the Waterbury Center Community Church on December 27th at 1 p.m. A memorial service will also be held in the Littleton Congregational Church at a date and time to be announced. Inurnment will take place in Forest Hills Cemetery in Jamaica Plains MA.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Waterbury Center Community Church, PO Box 216, Waterbury Center VT 05677, to the Central Vermont Humane Society, PO Box 687, Montpelier, VT 05601, or to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre VT 05641

Arrangements are in the care of the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home in Waterbury VT. To send on-line condolences to the family, please visit www.perkinsparker.com.