Ruth E. Bassingthwaite

PETERSHAM - Ruth E. (Newbury) Bassingthwaite, 82 of 15 North Main St., Petersham, died Sunday, October 11, 2009 in the Athol Memorial Hospital, Athol. She was born in Ware, on May 19, 1927, the daughter of the late Robert A. and the late Eva L. (Wendemuth) Newbury. She lived in Petersham since she was three years old, graduating from Petersham High School in 1945. She attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. She was employed by the United States Postal Service in Petersham for thirty-two years, retiring in 1989. She was a correspondent for the Athol Daily News for over forty-seven years and also for the Barre Gazette. Mrs. Bassingthwaite was the Town Clerk in Petersham for twenty-one years; a member of the Unitarian Church most of her life; was a member of the Petersham Grange No. 95 for over 67 years; a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 415 since 1948; served as past president of the Worcester County American Legion Auxiliary; served in the State Committee Grange of Women's Activities; was a member of the Franklin-Worcester Pomona Grange No. 4, the State Grange and the National Grange; and was also a longtime member and secretary of the Petersham Historical Society. She was married to her husband, Frank B. Bassingthwaite, for fifty-seven years before his death on March 26, 2005. She leaves one daughter, Melody B. Bourque of Athol; two sons, Robert B. Bassingthwaite of Arizona, Richard J. Bassingthwaite of Petersham; five grandchildren, Michael J. Gordon of Conway, Kevin Alner of Humble, TX, Cheryl DuFresne of Fayetteville, NC, Eric Bassingthwaite of Suwanee, GA, Heather Franks of Jaffrey, NH; and eight great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter, Linda B. McAllister and by two brothers, Walter H. Newbury and Robert M. Newbury, Sr. Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 15, 2009, at 11 a.m. in the First Church Unitarian, On the Common, Petersham. Burial in Quabbin Park Cemetery, Ware will be Friday, October 16, 2009, at 11 a.m. Calling hours will be held Wednesday, October 14, 2009 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Fiske Funeral Home 1356 Main St., Athol. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in her memory to the Petersham Grange No. 95 c/o Ruth Robinson P.O. Box 137 Petersham, MA 01366 or to the Petersham American Legion Auxiliary c/o Nancy Robinson 355 North Main St., Petersham, MA 01366. For more information or to sign our online guest book please visit www.fiskefuneralhome.com. Fiske Funeral Home 1356 Main Street, Athol is directing arrangements. $(document).ready(function(){ });