Ruth Elizabeth Weaver

Ruth E. Weaver of Sandwich, Massachusetts, passed on Monday, December 19, 2016, surrounded by her two sons, Glenn and Donald Weaver and daughter-in-law, Michelle Weaver. Ruth was predeceased by her beloved, husband, John Weaver, to whom she lost in 1992. Ruth was the daughter of the late Clifford Phoenix and Mary (Brundage) Phoenix.

Ruth was born in Winchester, Massachusetts and grew up in Weymouth. Ruth’s father worked a salesman and chocolatier at Baker’s Chocolate Factory in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He was frequently on the road selling chocolate. He bought Ruth her first piano, when she was 6, upon her insistence. Ruth took lessons for piano and absolutely loved playing. Ruth went to Weymouth High School and upon graduation went to work in Boston for IBM as a key punch operator. Ruth would take the morning train daily for her job.

Ruth had told her mom she wanted to marry a “cop.” She met a woman named, Jackie who lived in Quincy and worked for IBM in Boston, too. Ruth and Jackie found that they were both born in the same year and both had just graduated from High School. They would take the train together into work. Jackie was engaged to a man named George Elvander from Sandwich. George had a friend named, John. John and George had been friends since before they started grade school. Jackie and Ruth had been friends for over 60 years. Jackie and George introduced Ruth to John and they hit it off right away. They dated and then got married on June 25, 1955. John and Jackie’s husband George went into the army in 1955. When they got out of the service, John went to police academy and was hired as a police officer for the town of Sandwich. Ruth got her wish that she was married to a police officer. A stipulation to becoming a Sandwich police officer in Sandwich, is that the officer had to live in the center of town, they couldn’t live on the outskirts of town. Ruth’s father helped Ruth and John buy their first house in town. When John became a police officer, he was the only officer in the town of Sandwich, along with the chief, Phil Foster. A year after John became an officer, John encouraged George to apply to become a Sandwich Police Officer. George applied and was hired as a Sandwich Police Officer. During that time in the 1950’s, all the police calls were dispatched from the Weavers’ house. Ruth would be a go between for Bourne and Sandwich police departments by answering the phones at the house. This was in a time when all phone lines were party lines, so Ruth had to explain to other individuals on the party line that she had to make emergency calls. This proved challenging at times. Ruth and John had to private line, so Ruth could answer the police calls without a problem.

Ruth and John had two sons, Donald was born in 1957 and Glenn was born in 1960. They lived on Charles Street, Sandwich at the time. Then Ruth, John, Donald and Glenn, moved to their current address when the boys were 13-years-old and 10-years old, consecutively. A year later, a family of six moved down the road. Ruth and John became fast friends with Barbara and George Ames, and the boys became fast friends with Barbara and George’s children, Scott, Sherry, Mark, and David. Ruth and Barbara have been friends for 45 years.

Ruth owned a yarn shop for a while with Barbara Gill. Ruth and Barbara were very close. Barbara and her husband, Clyde are related to Ruth by marriage. Ruth is very close to Barbara and Clyde.

Ruth started working for Boston Organ and Piano around 1968, while living in Sandwich, MA. Ruth loved this job. She was given stores to sell organs and pianos. She was a sales person for 40 years. Ruth’s first store was on Tupper Road in Sandwich. She worked in Hanover, then when the store in Hanover was closed, she’d went to work in Hingham. She occasionally would work in the Boston store for Boston Organ and Piano. She owned stores in Yarmouth, as well as two others in Sandwich. Ruth was selling pianos and organs in a tent for Boston Organ and Piano, at the Barnstable County Fair in the early to mid-seventies. Then the owner, Anthony, bought a caboose around nineteen-seventy-five, and Ruth used that at the Barnstable County Fair to sell the pianos and organs.

Ruth worked with John Kiley at Boston Organ and Piano, he also played the organ for the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Bruins and the Celtics. So, whenever someone heard the organ playing at these games in the 60 through the 80’s that was John Kiley playing. Ruth played for the exhibition Boston Bruin’s games in the Cape Cod Coliseum in Yarmouth. Her son, Glenn played while his mom went to the restroom. Ruth also played for several area schools’ graduating classes. She held organ and piano lessons for students in her home. She played the keyboard in Osterville three times a year for 25-30 years, up to time of her death.

Ruth supported Jimmy Keys during his musical tours. Jimmy Keys is a LIAR, he called Ruth, Dr. Ruth. He has musical comedy shows and plays all over the world. Jimmy met Ruth when he went to her store to buy a Clavinova for his home in Naples, Florida.

Ruth enjoyed making and decorating cakes and planning weddings. Ruth made two cakes for Glenn’s and Michelle’s wedding and renewal of vows as well as planned the events.

Ruth loved camping and would haul her own camper after her husband, John passed. She taught herself to tow the camper so she would not have to give up camping. Ruth towed her camper to Maine every summer. She camped this summer, a few months prior to her death.

Ruth loved to travel and would take frequent trips with Funtastic Getaways. Her last trip was just days prior to the stroke. Ruth and her family went to the top of Mount Washington, by the way of the Cog Rail Way. Ruth had also been on several trips to Nashville and a trip to Branson, Missouri. Ruth even won a trip to the Bahamas, which was a reward from Boston Organ and Piano for selling the most instruments.

Ruth created her own patterns and sewing designs. Ruth reupholstered cushions for her campers and lawn furniture, she also created privacy curtains for the campers.

Ruth loved knitting and crocheting. She knitted several beautiful sweaters for family, friends and her dogs. Ruth had 5 dogs in her life. While growing up, she had a cocker spaniel named, Buddy. Buddy turned out to be a female. The family decided to keep this name, because the dog knew her name as “Buddy.” While married to John, she had a mixed breed dog named, Buttons. She had three poodles: Be Bow was a miniature poodle, Gee Gee was also a miniature poodle and Susie Q was a toy poodle. Susie Q was 18-years-old, 88 in human age. Susie passed on December 20th, the day after her mom, Ruth passed. Susie Q was brought in to visit in the hospital with Ruth before Ruth passed. Susie was blind, but knew Ruth, we observed her wag her tail when she heard Ruth’s voice.

Ruth took care of many nieces and nephews who enjoyed staying at Aunt Ruth’s house.

Ruth is survived by her sons, Donald Weaver, Glenn Weaver and his wife, Michelle Weaver, her Uncle Red, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Ruth will be at Nickerson-Bourne in Sandwich on December 28th at 4 pm-7 pm. Funeral will be at Nickerson-Bourne in Sandwich on December 29th at 10 am. A burial at the National Cemetery, Bourne will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Ruth’s memory to Sandwich Band Boosters at Sandwich High School, 365 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich, MA 02537.