Ruth Louise Owen

Ruth Louise (Bush) Owen, 101, died August 16, 2025, at Mercy Hospital surrounded by her loving family. Ruth was born in Springfield, January 15, 1924, the daughter of the late Henry "Joe" and Martha Wohlfahrt Bush. She loved life and lived it fully. Graduating Commerce High School in 1942, her first employment was as bookkeeper for Springfield Buick Company where she met her future husband. Moving to East Longmeadow in 1946 after WWII, she became an early childhood teacher first at Busy Bee School and later at Glendale Road Nursery School in Wilbraham where she was a formative influence on a generation of students, including her daughter and son. Later in life, Ruth served as office manager for the MSPCA on Bliss Street and the Greater Springfield Council of Churches, fulfilling her life-long faith in God and service to others as an active and vocal member of the East Longmeadow United Methodist Church. Life journeys to Vancouver Island, Ireland and Israel rewarded her with innumerable cherished memories and moments of reflection. Married under autumn skies in 1946, Ruth was predeceased by her beloved husband of 24 years, Colby Arnold Owen, her dear friend and travel companion John Robert Fox, and cherished sister Jean Martha (Bush) Brunton of South Yarmouth. Ruth leaves her precious daughter Martha Grabe and her husband Michael "Red" Fryman of Largo, FL and devoted son David and his partner Petrea Hamelin of Holyoke. Ruth's funeral service will be Friday August 22, 2025, at 11AM from the East Longmeadow United Methodist Church with burial to follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gray House 22 Sheldon St Springfield, MA 01107. The Wilbraham Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.