Veazie – Ruth C. Houston, a long-time resident of Bangor and also of Palm Harbor, Florida, passed away peacefully at her home in Veazie on January 13, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Ruth was born March 14, 1926, in Brownville Junction to Matthew Piercy and Alice Elizabeth (Swan) Coburn. She graduated from Brownville Jct. High School in 1943 and as a Registered Nurse from Eastern Maine General Hospital in Bangor in 1947. She met her first great love, William M. Houston, a Milo native, while working at the ice cream counter in the Milo Rexall drugstore. They married November 26, 1947, following her graduation from EMGH. She was very proud to have worked to support them while Bill studied and obtained his undergraduate degree at Bowdoin in 1951 and his law degree at Harvard Law School in 1954. After moving to Bangor in the mid-1950’s, Ruth focused on establishing her home, raising her family, and volunteering in various capacities – for the American Red Cross and the YWCA. She was an active member and former president of the Quipus Club, a member of Hammond Street Congregational Church since 1963, and a formidable fundraiser for the YWCA. Ruth was one of the founding members of the Encore Program, the predecessor to the current Caring Connections, a YWCA program serving survivors of breast cancer. Ruth and Bill spent a few summers following their marriage working at Camp Natarswi, a Girl Scout camp on Lower Togue Pond at the base of Mt. Katahdin. Ruth was an avid golfer, bridge player, and hostess, taking great pride in her home and table. Following the birth of her children, each only fifteen months apart, Ruth delighted in being the consummate housewife and mom – always taking excellent care of her family, her home, and herself. Ruth nursed Bill through his battle with cancer, which he lost in 1993. She was fortunate to find her second great love, Richard England, in 1994, enjoying the past twenty-two years of life with him, and maintaining homes in Veazie and Palm Harbor, Florida.
Ruth is survived by: her children, William and Kathleen (Kamps) of Kingfield, Holly and Jeffrey (Beers) and Heather of Bangor; her beloved Richard England and his sons, Rick, Randy, Rodney and Ronnie; grandchildren Annah and Emma Houston, Joshua Beers, Elizabeth (Miguel Carrillo Samper), Amanda, Alexander, and Elliot (Cynthia) Mooers, Abigail and Madelyn Symonds; brothers Roger of Beverly, MA and Whitney of Brownville Junction; special friend Jeanne M. Paradis of Hampden. She was predeceased by her husband, William Mace Houston, grandson William Symonds, twin granddaughters Alison and Sarah Houston, and siblings Margaret, Irene, Betty, and Vaughn.
The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation for the wonderful care Ruth received from Loving Touch Home Healthcare, especially Kay Gagnon, and from the St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hospice team. Those wishing to honor Ruth in a special way can make a charitable donation in her name to the Bangor/Brewer YWCA, 17 Second St., Bangor, ME 04401, The Bangor Area Recovery Network, 142 Center St. Brewer, ME 04412, or the Hammond Street Congregational Church, P.O. Box 1106 Bangor, ME 04402-1106. A memorial service to celebrate Ruth’s life will be held on Saturday, January 21 at 2:00 PM, at the Hammond Street Congregational Church, presided over by the Rev. Dr. Mark A. Doty. A private interment ceremony will be held in the spring at the Pine Tree Cemetery in Brownville Junction. Condolences to family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.