She was born in Marlboro, Massachusetts on June 12, 1924, daughter of the late Warren and Mary Graham. She graduated from Marlboro High School in 1942.
Following graduation, she worked at the State Mutual Life Assurance Company in Worcester, MA.
In 1944, she entered the United States Coast Guard, serving as Yeoman in the Women’s Reserve until the end of World War II in 1946. She was stationed in Philadelphia, PA where she worked at the Personnel Separation Center.
She owned and operated the “Professional Telephone Answering Service” in Marlboro from 1959 to 1968. In 1968 she moved to New Hampshire. From 1968 to 1971, she was a dental assistant to Dr’s Fitts and Newcomb, as well as Dr. Dr. Zapski in Concord. She later worked at Blue Cross /Blue Shield in Concord in the Claims Dept. from 1971 to 1976, often interacting with the New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner.
In 1976 she headed for Alaska and worked on the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline until 1977, operating the Post Office at “Isabel Pass” - between Fairbanks and Anchorage.
When she returned to New Hampshire from Alaska, she worked for St. Paul’s School in Concord, as Secretary to the Comptroller until her retirement in 1986.
Ruth and her husband did a great deal of traveling over the years. They especially enjoyed the four trips they made to Portugal. She was a member of the Hooksett Congregational Church and was richly blessed with many wonderful friends.
She was a member of the “Still Bank Collector’s Club of America” since 1979 and acquired many antique cast iron “Still” Banks. Her collection also includes several mechanical banks. She was a member of the Bunting Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution(DAR); a member of the Auxiliary to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW); a member of the New Hampshire Orchid Society and a previous member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen.
Her interest in crafts involved participating in many craft shows and fairs.
She very much enjoyed raising Japanese Red Maples from seedlings she gathered from her brother’s tree in Marlboro, Mass. Many were given to Friends along with a poem which read: “Raised from seed with loving care, for you to plant and grow somewhere; when it grows up it might just bear, more little trees for you to share.”
Ruth was predeceased by her sister, Jeanne (Graham) Smithers.
Ruth is survived by her husband of 22 years, Philip M. Pahl of Bow; 3 sons, Logan Smith and his wife, Betty and Kenneth Smith and his wife, Diane all of Marlboro, MA, and Gordon Smith of Shirley, MA. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren; 2 brothers, Alan Graham and his wife, Beverly of Marlboro, MA and John Graham and his wife, Nancy of Harvard, MA and several nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, April 23 at the Bennett Funeral Home, 209 North Main Street, Concord.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 24 at 11:00 am at the Congregational Church of Hooksett, 5 Veterans Drive, Hooksett, NH 03106.
Interment will follow at 3:00 pm at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the CRVNA Hospice Program,
30 Pillsbury Street, Concord, NH 03301.
Arrangements under the direction of Bennett Funeral Home, Concord, NH.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18