Ruth Ryan

Ruth E. Ryan, 80, of Loon Pond in Acton and a former resident of Somerville, MA, died June 3 at Goodall Hospital in Sanford.She was born in Freedom on June 12, 1927, a daughter of Verner and Lelia (Whittaker) Wormlight, attended Brooks schools and Husson College in Bangor where she played on the basketball team.Family was everything to Ruth. Widowed at a young age, she raised her six children by herself. Even more, she took in family members in need and raised her niece Barbara Sinning and her two nephews Rick Wormlight and Steve Wormlight as her own.She was a resident of Somerville, MA for many years where her husband Robert P. Ryan was a lieutenant on the Somerville police force. He died in 1971. She moved to her summer home on Loon Pond permanently 23 years ago.In Acton, she worked as a volunteer at the Acton Elementary School where she was fondly referred to as "Gram Ryan." She read to the kids, worked with them in organizing their schoolwork and loved to eat lunch with them. She was also an active member of the Husson College Alumni Association.A very social woman, she particularly enjoyed her group of friends from TOPS with whom she breakfasted on Friday mornings. Some of these ladies spun off into a Red Hat Society group and she enjoyed monthly activities with them.Family members recalled that she was always jovial and upbeat, but that she was a fighter and could be feisty if necessary. She once marched on Washington, DC as a political activist to demand electrical rate relief for people in the Boston area. She was also an avid fan of the Boston Celtics.Ruth was predeceased by her two brothers, Donald Wormlight and Vern Wormlight.Survivors include 4 daughters, Marilyn Franceschi and her husband Joseph of Wilmington, MA, Diane E. Laurendeau and her husband Thomas of Acton, Patricia Williams and her husband Paul of Bar Harbor, Sandra M. Ryan of Acton, 2 sons, Robert P. Ryan and his wife Suzanne of Reading, MA, Kevin C. Ryan of Middletown, NJ, 9 grandchildren, David Franceschi, Bob Laurendeau, Michael Laurendeau, Brian Laurendeau, Nathan Williams, Bobby Ryan, Maggie Ryan, Katie Ryan, Jack Ryan, 3 great grandchildren, Marissa Laurendeau, Nicholas Laurendeau, Haley Laurendeau, a brother, David Wormlight and his wife Donna of Mt. Clemens, MI, a sister, Barbara Scroggs of Homestead, FL, and several nieces and nephews.Relatives and friends are invited to call on Friday from 11 AM to 1 PM at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale, where a memorial service will be conducted at 1:00 PM. Burial will take place on Saturday at 11 AM in Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett, MA. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider York County Shelters, Inc., P. O. Box 820, Alfred, ME 04002. Condolences may be expressed at the Condolences tab at left. You can still show your support by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Ruth Ryan Plant a tree in memory of Ruth