Ruth Blount

BLOUNT, RUTH PALMER 90, went home to be with the Lord July 16, 2012. She was the daughter of the late Abbie Greene Palmer and John S. Palmer III and the wife of former Rhode Island industrialist F. Nelson Blount. Since Nelson's death in 1967 she has been devoted to her family including 14 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren. She is survived by her children, Frederick Blount and Stephen Blount of Barrington, RI, Carolyn Sousa of Middletown, RI, Bob Blount of Waterville, ME and Bill Blount of Gilmanton Iron Works, NH. She is also survived by her brother, Richard Palmer, of Newport, RI and her sister, Jane Bodell of Bristol, RI. Ruth graduated from Lincoln School in 1939, and attended Stoneleigh Jr. College in Rye, NH, where she majored in home economics. Throughout her life she enjoyed boating and taking airplane trips with her adventuresome husband. Milestones included founding Dublin Christian Academy in Dublin, NH on property she and Nelson donated. She was also an integral part of Nelson's creation of his lifelong dream, Steamtown USA, which was founded in Vermont to preserve steam locomotives. It is now a national park in Scranton, PA. The Blount family has continued the business that Ruth and Nelson started in 1946 known originally as Blount Seafood Corporation, located in Warren, RI. It has expanded into multiple facilities including one retail market and four clam shacks throughout southern NE. In her later years she enjoyed spending time with her family reminiscing about family activities and new exploits of the great grandchildren. The service and burial will be private and Ruth will be laid to rest with her beloved husband, Nelson, in Dublin, NH. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Barrington Christian Academy, Old County Road, Barrington, RI. Visit smithmason.com for on-line condolences.