Ruth Elizabeth Young

Ruth Maynard was born on October 7, 1926 in New London, the daughter of Harold and Margaret (Mercier) Maynard. She graduated from Lyme Old Lyme High School where she was valedictorian among a number of other superlatives, including her favorite “Nicest Smile.” She attended Eastern CT State University where she earned her Masters in Education. She taught grades 4-6 at Lyme Consolidated School and Lyme Old Lyme Middle School for 30 years, with a brief post near Camp LeJeune in NC, and Camp Pendleton, CA. She was President of the Lyme Public Hall in the 1990’s, President of Grassy Hill Church in Lyme, and President of the Lymes’ Senior Center- for which she was also among its first fierce advocates for its initial construction. She loved to travel and always came home with hundreds of pictures, videos, and souvenirs for her family. She loved jigsaw puzzles, card games, and Scrabble. She was a perpetual artist and magic maker. She created beautiful Christmas stockings for everyone she could, crafted her own advent calendars, knitted more sweaters, blankets, and scarves than anyone could count, painted the map of Lyme mural in Lyme Consolidated School, a number of smaller paintings, furniture, and handcrafted toys, and so much more. She loved having her great grand children to her house for cocoa in front of the fireplace. We, as her family were her greatest pride and joy and she was a treasured and infinite gift to all of us who love her. 

Ruth is survived by her grandchildren Cathleen (Young) McDonald (Christopher), Patrick Young (Suehyla), and Ruth Crocker (Jay), 7 Great Grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. 

She is predeceased by her husband GySgt Frank Patrick Young and sons Michael A. and Philip E. 

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at 11:00am in Old Lyme Congregational Church, 4 Lyme St., Old Lyme, CT. 

Donations may be made in her memory to Toys for Tots.

Please visit www.fultontherouxoldlyme.com for tributes and directions.