Ruth S. Bennett

Ruth Edna Tootill was born on July 14, 1933 in Etna, ME a daughter of the late Phillip & Agnes (Parsons) Tootill. She grew up in Rockland where she played softball and basketball for Rockland High School. She was also a band majorette and graduated in 1952.

Ruth married Lawrence Salvatore Sparta in 1954. They lived in Virginia and New Hampshire before making their home in Portland. They had 3 children, Peter, Jane, and Kenny. After Larry died in 1986, Ruth worked as a receptionist at UNUM.

Ruth then married John “Jack” Bennett in 1996. She enjoyed their snowbird lifestyle, spending time in Englewood Florida when they weren’t at their home in Portland.

Ruth was an avid golfer with memberships at Riverside GC and Myakka GC in Florida. She was an active member of the Red Hatters and played bridge with the same group of friends for over 50 years!

She is survived by her husband Jack and sisters Molly Sweeney and Amanda Devine. Ruth also leaves daughter Jane and her husband Mark Wagner of Scarborough, son Ken and his wife Kira Sparta of Freeport and daughter in law Kathleen Sparta of Falmouth. She was also loved by step children Anne, Jackie, and John Bennett. Some of her fondest memories were with grandchildren Daniel, Elizabeth, Jamie, Allison, and Leo Sparta, Christina and Greg Wagner, and countless nieces, nephews, friends and family.

Memorial service will be at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 492 Ocean Ave. Portland on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 11 a.m. 

Arrangements are under the care of Advantage Funeral & Cremation Services, 981 Forest Ave. Portland, ME. Please visit www.advantageportland.com to sign Ruth’s guestbook.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to:

Susan L. Curtis Foundation

152 Allen Road

Stoneham, ME 04231