Ruth Elva Foss, 83, passed away on February 13, 2013, at Weeks Memorial Hospital in Lancaster, NH. She was born on November 26, 1929, in Burke, VT to Alton and Christie (Walter) Lee.
Ruth grew up in Whitefield, NH, and attended Lancaster High School. She worked for B.D. Weeks Hospital for many years as a nurse's aide on the Skilled Nursing Floor.
Ruth married Eugene H. Foss, Sr. of Lancaster NH in 1948. They were happily married for 43 years. Ruth was a member of Faith Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, NH. She filled her retirement years with ministering to family and friends and strangers through her gift of hospitality. She enjoyed many happy hours volunteering at Shiloh Retreat Center, Jefferson, NH. Her greatest joy however was her children , grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
Ruth is survived by her 4 children, Bonita F. Hicks of Jefferson, NH; Pamela F. Downing of Lancaster, NH; Eugene Foss Jr. and his wife Deb of Berlin, NH; and Cynthia F. Shoemaker and her husband Carl of Greensboro, NC; and 12 grandchildren Gary P. Downing Jr of Lancaster, NH; Mark Downing of Lancaster, NH; Forrest P. Hicks II of Jefferson, NH; Benjamin Hicks of Jefferson,NH; Christine Hicks Pellerin, of Lancaster,NH; Erin Hicks of Lancaster, NH; Adam Foss of Waterford, CT; Caleb Shoemaker of Ballston Spa, NY; Katie Hicks Crawford of Virginia Beach, VA; Travis Shoemaker of Great Barrington, MA; Justin Foss of Silver Springs, MD; and Jacob Shoemaker of Lakeland, FL.; and 16 great grandchildren Rebecca and Garrett Hicks of Jefferson, NH; Haile, Tyler, Alexis, and Benjamin Hicks of Jefferson, NH; Ethan and Preston Downing of Lancaster, NH; Diana Pellerin of Lancaster, NH; Anastasia, Zoe, and Peter Shoemaker of BallstonSpa NY;Cecilia and Lucille Foss of Waterford, CT; Micah Crawford of Virginia Beach, VA; and Jesse Shoemaker of Great Barrington, MA; her sister Patricia Neal of Whitefield, NH, and Kathleen Smith of Lancaster, NH; along with her nieces and nephews and other relatives.
Ruth was predeceased by her parents, Alton and Christie Lee, her sisters Sandra Gooden and Rita Gray, her brothers Reginald, Clyde, and Robert Lee, and by her daughter Diana (Foss) Hicks.
A funeral service will be held at the Jefferson Town Hall, Route 2, Jefferson, NH, on Sunday, February 17th, at 2:00 p.m. A visitation will be held at the Jefferson Town Hall, Route 2, Jefferson, NH, on Saturday, February 16th. The family will be greeting friends and relatives from 5-7:00 p.m.
Light refreshments will be provided by the members of Faith Presbyterian Church following the funeral service on Sunday, February 17th, at the Jefferson Town Hall. The family encourages you to stay and celebrate the life of Ruth Foss, a woman after God's own heart.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made for Benefit of Forrest Hicks Field, c/o Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank, P.O. Box 540 Lancaster, NH 03584; or at any branch of the bank.
Burial will be at the Summer Street Cemetery in Lancaster, NH, following the service.