Toplyn, Ruth R. (Lane), of West Roxbury, August 7, 2014. After a long illness Ruth passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones. Born in Boston on August 16, 1920. Daughter of the late George J. Lane and Gertrude M. (Connolly).
Married in Giessen, Germany, to Joseph Toplinsky (later changed to Toplyn).
During World War Two Ruth was a “Rosie the Riveter,” operating a crane at Hingham Shipyard. After the war she became a secretary at the Giessen Quartermaster Depot in Germany, where she met her future husband, Joseph Toplinsky, a Master Sergeant in the U. S. Army.
After her marriage Ruth devoted herself to the challenging job of homemaker and mother to four boys. Ruth guided her sons with a loving and steady hand even when her husband was deployed for extended periods overseas. With her husband she gave her sons the gift of a very happy childhood, including many blissful summers spent at their cottage in Falmouth Heights, MA.
Ruth lived for most of her life in West Roxbury. She recalled seeing the Hindenberg zeppelin and the Northern Lights from the roof of her childhood home on Centre St.
Ruth was always up for an adventure, even in her later life. She travelled to Ireland, went parasailing with her grandsons at age 79, and once rode alone on an unfamiliar bus into a rough neighborhood of Los Angeles just to see where it took her.
Ruth adored her grandchildren and loved sharing the adventures with them that she shared with her sons when they were young: trips to Castle Island, to the Falmouth Heights beach, and to Charlie’s for penny candy.
She is the beloved wife of the late Joseph Toplyn. Loving mother of Christopher and Deborah Toplyn of Arlington, TX; Joseph and Sherryl Toplyn of Harrison, NY; Michael and Joanne Toplyn of Arlington, MA; Matthew and Shawna Toplyn of West Roxbury, MA. Devoted grandmother of Andrew, Jeffrey, and Julia. Loving sister of the late George, Laura, Barbara, Norma, and Robert.
Funeral from the Robert J. Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home, 1803 Centre St. WEST ROXBURY on Monday August 11, at 9:00 AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in The Holy Name Church at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
Visiting hours in the funeral home on Sunday August 10, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Relief Services at www.crs.org or by mail to: Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21297-0303