Ruth McCracken Frager "Lathrop" Stone

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Ruth Stone Obituary

STONE Ruth (Lathrop) McCracken Frager Stone, was born on November 23, 1914, in Bridgeport. She passed away on Friday, January 27, 2006 in Nashville, Ind., at the age of 91. She was the loving mother of Emily Raymond and husband, John, of Manchester, Margaret Caudell and husband, Paul, of Nashville, Ind., and Susan Herring and husband, Tim, of Sacramento, Calif. Also surviving are grandchildren, Christopher Nelson of West Hartford, and Heather Koch, husband, Randy; and great-grandson, Will Koch of Portland, Ore. Ruth was preceded in death by husband, William W. M. McCracken, father of her daughters and by loving husbands Charles Frager and Ernest L. Stone. Ruth received her BA degree from Smith College in Massachusetts. She also attended Yale and Wesleyan Universities in Connecticut and received a Master's degree from Wesleyan in 1960. She taught high school and was the English Department Chairman at Stratford and Bunnell High Schools in Stratford, She also taught at the University of Bridgeport and Housatonic Community College. Ruth also co-authored two vocabulary textbooks, "Three Dimensions of Vocabulary Growth" Editions 1&2, with friend and fellow instructor Lew Paternoster. She was a wonderful person and will be greatly missed by all those who knew her, especially by her family, which includes nephew, David Lathrop of Virginia Beach, Va., and niece Carol MacCallum of Fairfield. Before her death, she lived with daughter Margaret (Peg) and her husband Paul in Nashville, Ind. She had also lived in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. She loved to write prose and poetry and has left her family with some delightful reading. Family and friends will gather in Stratford, CT in June 2006 to celebrate Ruth's life. All friends interested in attending may contact the family at [email protected] [email protected] or [email protected] Memorial donations in Ruth's memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation or to your favorite charity.

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Published by Connecticut Post on Feb. 1, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Ruth Stone

12 Entries

Heather Nelson Koch

January 28, 2007

I still really miss Gram. Everything about her. She would love to get to know her new granddaughter-in-law, Nina, and be happy that her only grandson had found such a great partner. She would delight in her great-grandson's latest antics and picked-up phrases. He was somewhat late to start talking but now the language is flowing with great enthusiam. I think perhaps a very well-spoken and light-hearted greatgrandma is sending him some special lessons and love from above!! We love you, Gram. Always.

Martha Flint

February 16, 2006

I knew Ruth for many years as a colleague and my department chair at Housatonic Community College. She was a friend as well as a colleague and my mentor, really, in the department chair position, in which I succeeded her. She was eminently fair in her dealings with faculty and students. She also had a delightful sense of humor. I enjoyed seeing her on several occasions in Florida where I spent winters after I retired myself. My deepest sympathy to her family, but your consolation must be that she had such a long and rewarding life. Martha Flint

Carol MacCallum

February 12, 2006

I am Ruth Lathrop McCracken Frager Stone's niece. My father, Robert Lathrop, was her brother. I have many wonderful memories of all my times with her as a child and as an adult. I remember her small cottage on Lordship Point in the 1940's, her unique house on Main Street in Stratford in the 50's and 60's, her home in Shelton in the 70's, her homes in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Woodbridge, CT in the 80's and 90's and her cute in-law apartment at Peggy's home in Indiana. I think of her often since I still go through Stratford and Shelton often where she and her family lived. I always admired my aunt. She worked very hard all her life and had many wonderful friends. I will miss her.

Peg Caudell

February 6, 2006

It is so wonderful to hear from all of you. Always knew I had a wonderful mom, but it is so great to hear that she affected other people's lives too. It means so much to hear from all of you at this time.

One of Ruth's daughters who misses her very much.

Sandy Kaeser McFarland

February 6, 2006

I was in Stratford High's class of '55 and although I never had Mrs. McCracken as a teacher, my senior year she was the editorial advisor to the yearbook staff, of which I was a member. Given Stratford's location on the Sound and the yearbook always being called "The Log", we decided on a nautical theme. She guided and encouraged us, as she did so many other Log staffs, in the production of a yearbook which, to this day, I'm proud to have been a part of. Mrs. McCracken: thank you for helping us all preserve our high school memories.

Barbara Stanley/Sarnik

February 4, 2006

Mrs. McCracken was my Creative Writing teacher in 1954 at Stratford High School. She was warm and interesting and I enjoyed her class. Sounds like she had a full life..

Sandy Glynn-Lippe

February 2, 2006

Dear Family of Ruth McCracken ( as I knew her),

My deepest sympathy to you all. I'm glad to know that Ruth was surrounded by such a loving family and host of friends. She certainly was a gifted teacher of English and life. It's been many decades since I sat in Mrs. McCracken's English class at Stratford High.

What high standards she set for her students. She made literature come alive and helped us with the unmentionables in today's curriculum: good grammar and spelling. Besides being a great English teacher, she instilled a work ethic in us.

Like many teens of today, I probably took for granted her many talents as a teacher way back in 1958. I don't think I ever returned to Stratford High to thank her. I hope it is not too late. Thank you, Mrs. McCracken. You helped me to become an English teacher too. Your family should know how you touched your students' lives.

Betsey Doane

February 2, 2006

I knew Ruth at Housatonic Community College; she hired me on the faculty in 1970. Wonderful person and terrific friend! We worked together for many years and enjoyed visiting her in Florida just before leaving for a cruise.

Heather Koch

February 2, 2006

"Gram" was not just a grandmother, she was a person I always did and will admire. Her great sense of humor, warm and wide smile, beautiful writing, intellect, generosity and pure love are memories I feel in my heart now and will share over many years with her greatgrandson and future family members. We were incredibly lucky to have her on this earth for so long. I like to think of her smiling wide now, having quite a time reconnecting with many loved souls from throughout her lifetime!

June 2005: Ruth with great grandson, William, and granddaughter, Heather

February 1, 2006

Barbara Lombardi

February 1, 2006

My twin sister Betsey Doane and I loved and admired Ruth! We visited her in Ft Lauderdale in 1997 and she drove us to the docks where we embarked on the Sun Princess to be part of the inauguration ceremony of the ship. We were interviewed by Ruth in 1970 at HCC as I believe she was Dean then. Many great visits with her and Charlie. We will miss her.

Robert Preble

February 1, 2006

Miss Lathrop was my English teacher at Stratford High School. Every lad in the class was in love with Miss Lathrop. She was the greatest teacher and friend to all. My condolences to her family and multitude of friends

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