Ruth M Stokes

Friday, August 7, 2015 at The Cedars in Portland. Ruth was born on January 22, 1917

in New Brunswick, Canada, the daughter of the late Frank and Alice (Sherwood) Shaw.

She moved to Maine with her parents when she was eight and later became a naturalized

citizen of the United States. She was married to Charles L. Stokes, Jr. of Westbrook,

Maine who was deceased in 1999.

Ruth became a Nationally Certified Teacher of piano (secondary organ) through New

York State Music Teacher’s Association and reciprocally in Florida. She had several

students who were scholarship winners, some of whom are still teaching in schools and

privately.

At the beginning of Ruth’s musical career, she directed the choir at the First Baptist Church, Westbrook, and later served as organist. She then became Director of music and organist at the First Baptist Church in Bangor where she directed a men’s choir and a mixed choir.

Ruth was President of Onandaga County Music Teachers’ Association in Syracuse, New

York and President of Okaloosa County Music Teacher’s Association in Ft. Walton Beach,

Florida. She was organist at the First Methodist Church of Ft. Walton Beach, Florida and

later became organist at the First Methodist Church of Destin, Florida.

Ruth and her husband traveled extensively and after his passing she joined the First Baptist

Church of Portland, Maine where she served as substitute organist. She recently wrote and

published a children’s book entitled, “Coco: The Little Brown Poodle Who Thought He

Owned The Place”. Ruth leaves behind her beloved nieces Theodora Wilson, Judith Ward

and Glenna Eliason, a nephew, Harold Coker, and several great nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Ruth’s life will be held at the First Baptist Church, 360 Canco Road,

Portland on Friday, August 14, 2015 at 11:00 AM. An hour of visitation will precede the service starting at 10:00 AM at the church. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Westbrook. Arrangements are under the care of Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St. Portland.