Ruth Greenwood Smith

ORLEANS - Ruth Greenwood Smith, 99, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, in Orleans.

Ruth was born to Fred and Edith Greenwood in Methuen. Her father and mother emigrated from England to America in 1904, and Ruth loved her English roots.

She married Russell E. Smith on Dec. 26, 1938, one year after graduating from the Lawrence General Hospital School of Nursing. They lived in Philadelphia, while Russell attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and in Littleton and Haverhill, when Russell owned a private veterinary practice. During this time Ruth was the anesthetist and surgical nurse in Russell's practice.

They moved to Pelham, in 1949 when Russell was invited to join the faculty of the University of Massachusetts Amherst as a professor in the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. He remained in that capacity until his retirement. During this time Ruth was nurse/head teacher/assistant director at the university's childhood development laboratory and nursery school, while simultaneously managing the development of three active sons and the care of her mother and mother-in-law. She also tended the Pelham Public Library, was a docent at the Historic Deerfield Museum, and with Russell and her mother, Edith Greenwood, was a pillar of the Pelham Federated Church. Ruth was named Deacon Emeritus of the church upon retirement.

Upon retirement in 1977, Ruth and Russell moved to their family vacation home in Orleans, where Ruth continued her volunteer work for the next 27 years, including the Head Start program, The Federated Church of Orleans, and The Orleans Community Exchange.

Ruth is survived by three sons, Stephen E. Smith (Deede) of Stillwater, Minnesota, David Smith-Greenwood (Coleen) of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Robert F. Smith (Patti) of Harwich Port, five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Her husband Russell E. Smith, predeceased her in 2008. They were married for almost 70 years.

A memorial service will be held in Orleans in the fall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The Harwich Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 101, South Harwich, MA 02661, or FSH Muscular Dystrophy Society Inc., 450 Bedford St., Lexington, MA 02420.

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