Ruth I (Moses) Doyle

Ruth M. Doyle, 94, of Barre, MA, died November 21, 2012, at Life Care Center of Leominster after a brief illness.  She was the third of seven daughters of Fred and Laura Moses of Tilton, NH, and the widow of Howard A. Doyle, who died in 1987 after 26 years of marriage. Ruth Irene Moses was born on April 25, 1918, in Sanbornton, NH. She graduated cum laude from Tilton School in 1936 and then attended Boston University College of Liberal Arts, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a B.S. in anthropology/sociology in 1940. She stayed on at Boston University to attend graduate school, receiving an M.A. in History in 1941, then went on to Boston College Law School and graduated in 1946 with a J.D., one of only two women in her class. She and Howard raised their family in Belmont, MA, where she practiced law on the side. Ruth eventually retired from practicing law after more than 50 years as a probate attorney and member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Boston Bar Association. She was an accomplished quilter and author of “Soft Toys Made With Love,” published in the 1980s. She created hundreds of quilts and wall hangings over the years for family and friends, marking every significant occasion. Throughout her life she also wrote stories, many about growing up in rural New Hampshire. When Howard retired, he and Ruth moved to East Dennis, MA. Ruth eventually moved to Barre, MA, where she became a very active member of Barre Congregational Church and the Barre Women’s Club. She also attended the Barre Senior Center and later Summit ElderCare in Leominster, MA. In addition to her husband, Ruth was predeceased by one son, Kim S. Doyle, and three sisters, Florence McCarthy, Agnes Baptist, and Arlene Tendyke. She leaves three sisters, Eleanor Wagner of Shrewsbury, MA, Madeline Ohman of Lenox, MA, and Esther Moses of Muskegon, MI; children Ward and Susie Doyle of Boca Raton, FL, David Doyle of Cape Coral, FL, Karen Inkster of Fort Myers, FL,  Thomas Doyle of Medford, MA, Elizabeth Stevens of Buzzard’s Bay, MA, and James and Lee Gray of Vancouver, WA. She also leaves grandchildren Megan Lappin, Brennan Doyle, Mathew Doyle, Timothy Doyle, Kaitlin Stitham, Shannon Dominguez, Morgan Inkster, John Inkster, and Emily Stukas as well as many nephews, nieces, and great-grandchildren. A memorial service and celebration of Ruth Doyle’s life will be held at Barre Congregational Church on Sunday, December 2, 2012, at 3:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruth’s name to the Tilton School, 30 School St., Tilton, NH 03276. $(document).ready(function(){ });