Ruth E. Barton

Ruth E. Barton, age 83 of Dummerston, and formerly of Putney and Westminster, passed away in the comfort of her home on Friday evening, August 8, 2025 with her husband at her side following a courageous fight with cancer. She was born at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital on June 7, 1942, the eldest of four children of John and Mildred (Mortimer) Houghton of Dummerston. While her father fought in WWII, Ruth and her mother lived with her grandparents on the family farm on Houghton Road before moving to Putney and then Westminster. She attended Dummerston and Putney elementary schools and graduated from BUHS with the class of 1960. Following graduation from BUHS, Ruth married Erwin Stockwell of Putney but they later divorced. She then married Merrill Barton of Putney with whom she enjoyed 48 years of marriage. Ruth worked for several years in the operating room at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and later worked with her husband at Greenwood School. Ruth was very active in community service. She was on the School Board for both Bellows Falls and Brattleboro high schools for several terms at each school. She worked several years at the polls in Dummerston, served as President of the Putney Historical Society, was active in the ownership and subsequent rebuilding of the Putney General Store and was a member in good standing of the Dummerston Historical Society. She was a former member of the Evening Star Grange of Dummerston and served on the Board of Trustees at Rescue, Inc. for several years representing the Town of Putney. Ruth was a member of the Dummerston Congregational church and was President of the church's Women's Association at the time of her passing. She was the quiet push behind the Apple Pie Festival and the Strawberry Festival at the church and though no longer a member of the grange, was a solid supporter of their activities and fund raisers over the years. She was well known for her zippy deviled eggs!! Survivors include her husband, Merrill; two sons, George of Putney and John of Dummerston; a brother-in-law, Robert Hayden of Westfield, MA; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents; her brother, George Houghton; two sisters, Linda Arsenault and Betty Ann Hayden; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, Aug. 16th at 10:00 a.m. at Dummerston Congregational Church with Pastor Shawn Bracebridge officiating. A reception will follow the services to be held in the church's fellowship hall. Committal services and burial will be conducted in Mount Pleasant Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ruth's name may be made to a local charity of one's choice.