Ruth D. Jordan

Ruth Della Arthur was born on November 30, 1925 in southern Indiana’s Greene County to parents, Opal Mildred and Ralph Kenneth Arthur. Her modest upbringing in Newark was enriched by a close circle of cousins and her brother Paul. Ruth Della thrived on competition, whether it was on the basketball court, a hand of euchre or cyphering math problems at the blackboard. She attended Solsberry Schools, graduated high school at age 16, and moved to Indianapolis to attend Indiana Business College. After completing her training, she was hired as a secretary at Indiana Farm Bureau in downtown Indianapolis. Active in its Rural Youth organization, Ruth Della was selected by her peers to introduce a young Birch Bayh, Jr. at the Farm Bureau’s national youth speaking contest, an emerging leader who went on to become Senator of Indiana in1963. This honor was among Ruth’s proudest moments.

Ruth Della met William Tenney Jordan, Jr. a dairyman from Concord, New Hampshire, on a Rural Youth trip to San Francisco,. They were married in 1947, and Ruth moved to New England to join the Jordan family at Kadockadee Farm on Little Pond Road. After a barn fire, the farm relocated to Canterbury to expand its operation. With Ruth’s training and affinity for math and business, she contributed to the farm and milk delivery operation as the official secretary and bookkeeper. She was a fixture at the Guernsey Parish Show and Hopkinton Fair for years, as she supported the success of the Kadockadee Farm herd at ringside.

In 1966, Ruth returned to full-time work off the farm, and was employed at United Life Insurance Co., then Chubb Life Insurance Co., until1991. Soon after joining United Life, she was appointed secretary to the president, and went on to support the executive staff for more than 25 years.

A modest but accomplished leader, Ruth’s natural calling was service to others. She was a lifetime member and served as President of the Concord Female Charitable Association. As an active member of the First Congregational Church in Concord since 1951, she was President of the Beyer Group of the Women’s Guild, President of King’s Daughters, and served on the Board of Trustees, the Board of Deacons and the Investment Committee. She volunteered tirelessly on holiday fairs and other church activities, and was always a willing driver when someone needed a lift to a meeting.

Ruth also served on the Home Demonstration Group of the County’s Cooperation Extension, the Associated Women of New Hampshire Farm Bureau, and the New Hampshire Guernsey Breeders’ Association. After moving to Havenwood in 2004, she served on the Havenwood Auxiliary, and actively volunteered as a greeter and in the gift shop throughout her life there.

Ruth never lost her passion for competition. She invested years of her life on uncomfortable stadium seating cheering on her children’s basketball, baseball and field hockey games, and closely followed her grandchildren’s activities from afar. She was an avid Red Sox and Celtics fan, and enjoyed talking sports, especially with her grandsons. Her devotion to her children and grandchildren never wavered, and her business-like approach blended with compassion was her style of counsel. Ruth is also fondly remembered for her down-home cooking. She served bountiful meals which were enjoyed at large family gatherings. After her retirement, Ruth enjoyed the adventure of traveling with her brother Paul and his wife Betty Lou and family and friends. She held a true appreciation for musical performances of all types, but loved sing-a-longs best. She loved to be where love and laughter flowed.

Ruth’s family will sincerely miss her. Her children include son Glenn Jordan and his wife Patricia of Van Nuys, CA, daughters Marcella Bobinsky and her husband Tim of East Washington, NH and Margaret Chatey and her husband Louis of Ashford, CT. Ruth loved her six grandchildren and their families including Laura Kiesler, Matt Jordan, Adam Kiesler, Nicholas Jordan, Jordan Chatey, and Carder Chatey. She also leaves four great-grandchildren: Jaxon Jordan, Albany Kiesler, Iris Chatey and Hyland Jordan.

Ruth was extremely close to her nieces and nephews and their families including Linda and Larry MacKillop, Ken Arthur and Peter Hagen, Pat Arthur and Diane Hale, Frances and George LaChance, Mahala and Tom Renkey, Jamie Jordan, David and Abby Jordan and Mimi Jordan Sherin.

Ruth Della was pre-deceased by her parents Opal and Ralph Arthur, her brother Paul Arthur and sister-in-law Betty Lou, and her sister Esther who passed at age 3.

A private funeral will take place at Bennett Funeral Home. A public graveside service at Millville Cemetery, 75 Hopkinton Road in Concord, will be held on Monday, August 17, 2020 at 1:30PM.

In lieu of flowers, Ruth’s family suggests that donations be sent in her honor to Havenwood Heritage Heights c/o of The Boutique Scholarship Fund (which furthers staff education) at 33 Christian Ave, Concord, NH 03301, or to the Concord Female Charitable Society, PO Box 2611, Concord, NH 03302.