Ruth R. Smith

BARRE – Ruth R. Smith, 91, of Camp Street, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 5, 2016, at home with her family at her bedside.
Born on December 27, 1924 in Northampton, MA, she was the daughter of the late Ralph Ernest and Maria W. Reynolds.
Ruth graduated from Northampton High School in Northampton, MA with the class of 1942. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA in 1946 and continued her graduate studies in the field of economics at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA.
On October 11, 1947, she married Donald Ladd Smith of Barre Town, VT in Northampton, MA. He died on March 7, 2001. After their marriage, the couple moved to Vermont.
Ruth worked in the office of Cook, Watkins, and Patch before working as a reporter for the Montpelier Argus and Burlington Free Press for several years. In 1969, and she and her husband bought Windy Wood Orchard which she continued to operate until 2004. Ruth was also a licensed Casualty Insurance Agent and a Welcome Wagon Hostess for several years.
In addition to raising her family and working, Ruth was a member and former chair of the Barre Town School Board for 7 years, and Chair of the Barre Town Bicentennial Committee. She was also very involved in politics, she was a member of Washington County Republican Committee, former chair and secretary of the Barre Town Republican Committee, and a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1987-1994 representing Barre Town. Ruth served as Secretary of the Vermont State Republican Committee for 4 years, Chair of the Republican Mental Health Task Force for 6 years, Treasurer of the Vermont Federation of Republican Women, and as past President of the Vermont Legislative Women’s Auxiliary. She was an Incorporator and former member of the Board of Trustees of the Austine School for Deaf in Brattleboro, former member of the Vermont Federal Bank Advisory Board and a former member and co-chair of the Barre Granite Museum Study Committee.
In 1984, Ruth received a Greater Barre Community Service award, she was also presented with an Outstanding Legislator of the Year Award from the Sportsmen’s Alliance for Vermont’s Environment in 1988, and in 1996 she was awarded the Barre Town Citizenship and Service Award.
Ruth was the founding member and President of the ABH Extension Homemakers Club, as well as President of the Washington County Extension Homemakers. She was a Girl Scout troop leader and went on to serve as District Chairman and Officer of the Board of the Vermont Girl Scout Council. Ruth was a former officer of the Cobble Hill Grange and a member of the State and National Granges. She also served as Treasurer, Vice-President and eventually President of Altrusa International of Barre from 1995-1997. In 1948, Ruth joined the Barre Congregational Church and served in the roles of clerk and treasurer.
In her spare time, she enjoyed playing Contract Bridge, reading and travel.
She is survived by her son, Donald Reynolds Smith of Barre; her daughter Rebecca Ruth Smith Miracle of East Montpelier; and her granddaughters Brittany Jane and Halen Elizabeth Miracle of East Montpelier.
Besides her parents and husband, she is predeceased by her sisters Ernestine Moore and Marilyn Gray.
The service to honor and celebrate her life will be held on Friday, November 11, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. in the Barre Congregational Church. There are no calling hours.