Ruth Benedict Jaquette
Of Milford, passed away Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at Courtland Manor in Dover. She was 103.
Ruth was born on June 23, 1910 in Penn Yan, NY, daughter of the late Charles E. and Ethel M. (Ansley) Benedict.
She began her career in retail business as a bookkeeper for Hollingsworth Lumber in Newark. After moving to Milford, Ruth quickly became known by many people in the community through the positions she held at separate times for the Milford Chronicle, Sears, Milford Hardware, Leggetts, Coopersmiths, Milford Stitching, and The Laundry Basket. She owned and operated her own fabric business, The Yardstick, from 1970-73. In her later years, Ruth was in high demand as a home caregiver for several local families.
Ruth was also known as an amateur poet, writing poems about special people in her life and various other topics, and for her leadership over the years in the 4-H Club, the Cub Scouts, and as a long time member of Avenue United Methodist Church in Milford. She joined Avenue on November 19, 1950 and was active as a Sunday school teacher, a member of the United Methodist Women, and the Mary Circle.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert T. Jaquette in 1967, a sister, Barbara Gilmore, and a grandson, Christopher Snell.
She is survived by a son, Robert A. "Bob" Jaquette of Milford; three daughters, Jean J. Luce of Tempe, AZ; Fran Jaquette of Milford, and Judy Berwick of Richmond, VA; eight grandchildren, Rona Berwick, Trevor Berwick, Carol Luce, Robert Luce, Adam Snell, Karen Moore, Rebecca Jacob, and Walter N. Thomas II; and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 24, 2013, at the Avenue United Methodist Church, 20 N. Church St, Milford, where friends may call after 10:00 a.m.
Burial will take place in the Henlopen Memorial Park, 28787 Lockerman Rd, Milton.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested contributions in Ruth's memory to Avenue United Methodist Church, 20 N. Church St, Milford, DE, 19963 or to the Milford Community Pantry, c/o Avenue United Methodist Church at the address above.
(09/19/13)