Ruth Bogle

Ruth Coombs Bogle, age 95, passed away at her home in Little Compton, RI surrounded by her loving family. Devoted to each other, Ruth and Robert C. Bogle were married 60 years before his passing in 2005.

Born Ruth Louise, in Fall River to Leslie Briggs and Charlotte C. (Smith) Coombs, she and her parents moved to Westborough MA for a time before returning to Fall River permanently. She spent memorable days as a child at the Briggs family homestead and wonderful summers at the “cottage” with her husband and children. The early years of raising her family included living in Somerset and Fall River MA and Sevier NC before the move to Pittsfield MA in 1955. Ruth and Bob retired from many happy years in Pittsfield and became permanent residents of Little Compton in 1979.

A graduate of Smith College, Class of 1944, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in music. Right out of college she taught first grade for a year in Washington, D.C. Her teaching tenure in Pittsfield began as director of the “Tiny Tots” pre-school program at the Girls’ Club. Then, beloved Mrs. Bogle began teaching at Richmond Elementary School in Richmond, MA. Her first year there she taught fourth grade and then devoted the rest of her twelve years to teaching first grade. After moving to Little Compton, she became a substitute teacher at the Wilbur & McMahon School.

Her marriage was a true love story and her love of family knew no bounds, she embraced friends and community with kindness, compassion and generosity. She owned Briggs Beach, Little Compton, in the family since 1683. Along with her husband, she ran the business for many years. She honored her inheritance and was a devoted steward of the land. She loved the ocean, spending time with her family at the beach and looking out to the Lion Rock.

A skilled musician on the piano and organ, she was a longtime member of the choir and oratorio choirs at the First Congregational Church in Pittsfield, MA. She sang in the choir and rang in the bell choir at the United Congregational Church in Little Compton and also joined in with the Tiverton Community choir. She launched the fundraising program to buy a new organ for the church and traveled to Italy to see it being built. The Christian Education Center at the United Congregational Church was dedicated to Ruth and Robert Bogle for their commitment to the Sunday school program. She loved swimming, enjoyed playing Bridge and had great times playing Mahjong with a “great bunch of gals”.

She is survived by four daughters, Carol B. Appleton and her husband Charles, Nancy B. and Weems Westfeldt, Susan B. Finnegan and her husband James J, Leslie B. Wilson and her husband Keith, one son, CAPT Ronald C. Bogle, USN (Ret) and his wife Jane; ten grandchildren, Robert, Scott, Kathryn, Alexander, Linda, James, Cary, Benjamin, Patrick, and Dylan; fourteen great grandchildren, Tyler, Evan, Ryan, Connor, Juliana, Virginia, John, Theodore, Duke, Camdyn, Meryck, Briggs, Eloise and Sidney; and three nephews, Bill, Peter and Dana Bogle. She was the mother of the late Linda Bogle and grandmother of the late Wallace Briggs Westfeldt.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 11:00 AM in the United Congregational Church, The Commons, Little Compton, RI, 02873. Contributions may be made in her honor to The Ruth C. Bogle Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Wilbur & McMahon Schools, 28 Commons, Little Compton, RI 02837 and/or United Congregational Church. For tributes and directions, www.waring-sullivan.com