Ruth Thorne Chaplin

Ruth T. "Pat," 98, died peacefully April 14, 2013 at St. Mary's Hospital. Pat, as she was known by her family and friends, was born January 28, 1915 in Anson, Maine. She graduated from Colby College June 17, 1935 at the age of 20. She taught for a while at Anson Academy. She held master's degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia. Pat worked for many years at McGuire Veterans Hospital and later for the state of Virginia. She moved from Richmond, Va., to Salisbury, N.C., where she continued to work for the Veterans Administration, and later went into private practice as a speech pathologist. She returned to Richmond, Va., in 2002, where she lived with her loving daughter, Diane. Pat was an avid bird watcher, gardener and world traveler. She enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles. She was always kind to everyone she met. She will be sorely missed by all that knew her. She will be remembered as a very loving and supportive mother. She was predeceased by her father, James H. Thorne; and her mother, Edna M. Thorne; husband, George A. Chaplin; and sister, Barbara Green. She is survived by her brother, James Thorne; her children, Diane H. Chaplin, John G. "Jack" Chaplin and his wife, Dody Chaplin, James T. Chaplin, Craig L. Chaplin and his wife, Kim, and Michael P. Chaplin; and her grandchildren, John G. Chaplin Jr., Mark D. Chaplin and Joseph D. Chaplin. A private memorial service will be held at Hot Springs, Va., at a time to be determined.