Ruth Isabelle Ruoff

Ruth was born in Portland, Maine September 21, 1923 to Dr. Julius Calvin Oram and Dorothy Tobie Oram (Burkett). She attended Roosevelt (1-6), Hendley (7-8) elementary, graduated from South Portland High in 1941 continuing her education at LaSalle Jr. College class of 1944, and Maine School of Commerce. She was employed in the Boston and Maine Railroad office.

While attending a USO function she met her future husband Charles Leonard Ruoff who was on navy leave in Portland Harbor during WWII. They were married in 1946 and moved to Sonora California. She was a Red Cross swimming instructor and Bank of America employee for several years. After their divorce she returned to Maine in the late 1950's. She was an employee of the Eastern Book Company until her retirement.

Ruth was a communicant of St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church where she was a lecturer, a member and past president of the Sacred Heart Sodality, a lifelong member of the Italian Heritage Center and a past matron of the Order of Eastern Star Longfellow Chapter.

She enjoyed reading, working at bazaars, occasional trips to Foxwood, and calling her daughter every Sunday morning at 9AM.

She is predeceased by her longtime companion of 35 years Frank Morelli, a brother Sgt. William Oram, (Betty) parents Dr J. Calvin Oram and Mrs. Dorothy Tobie Oram Burkett. Ruth ‘s grandmother and namesake Mrs. Isabelle Oram of Bristol Maine who was the first woman to pilot the schooner “Jean L. Somerville” across the Atlantic Ocean in 1920.

Surviving are daughter Sandra Ruoff Fisher (Robert) of Sonora, CA. grandchildren Bradley and Martha Fisher of CA. Close family friends Carmela, Frank, and Marianne Reali, 2 nephews Calvin Kip Oram, Peter Oram and niece Beth (Oram) Butler.

Relatives and friends are invited to a brief visitation at 9 am on Monday, April 25, 2016 at Jones, Rich and Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford St. Portland, Maine, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, 72 Federal St., Portland. Interment will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, So Portland. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory to St. Peters Roman Catholic Church Building Fund, 72 Federal St Portland, Me. 04101.

Please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com for additional information and to sign Ruth’s online guest book