WHITEHOUSE, Ruth Walker, 89, a resident of Weston for over 50 years, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2021, at North Hill in Needham. She had just celebrated her 65th wedding anniversary with her dearly beloved husband David on June 23rd. Devoted and adored mother of son Walker Whitehouse and his wife Jinglei, daughter Laura Whitehouse, and son Sanford Whitehouse and his wife Virginia. Cherished grandmother of Walker, Carson, Aurelia, and Blakeley.
Ruth was born in Boston to the late Agnes and James Walker both of whom were born in Scotland. She met her husband at MIT where she worked for the President of the college. A lifelong, dedicated volunteer for organizations including, The Eastern Star, Home for Little Wanderers, Boston Lying Inn Hospital, Newton Wellesley Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Florence Crittenton League of Wellesley, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Morning Musicales, and Trinity Church to name a few. She and David had a great love of ballroom dancing and spent many evenings with friends dancing the night away at The Waltz Evenings. Ruth’s love of dancing started at a young age with ballet and tap dancing. In her 40’s, she purchased and personally ran The Eliot Dances, a company that was focused on sharing a love of ballroom dance and respectful manners with the next generation. She purchased her first property on Cape Cod when she was 19 years old, where she and David later built a summer cottage. Ruth’s early interest in real estate became an area of investment for the couple during their married life. She had an exceptionally kind and generous spirit, always putting others first.
Ruth cared about her family above all else, utterly devoted to the growth and development of her children. She loved spending summers with her family in Maine, where she enjoyed playing tennis, boating, hiking, knitting and needlepoint. She was an exceptional and exceedingly gracious hostess and she experienced great joy in entertaining friends and family in her home. She will be deeply missed.
A visitation will be held at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St., (Rt.16) WELLESLEY on Thursday, July 1 from 10:00-11:00am followed by a funeral service in the funeral home beginning at 11:00am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment in Linwood Cemetery, Weston.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in her memory.