A kind and loving woman who was always up for an adventure
NORTH READING — Ruth E. (Hall) Welch, 89, of North Reading, passed peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family and friends on Thursday, January 19, 2023.
Born in Stoneham on July 18, 1933, she was the daughter of the late George W. and Dorothy M. (Pike) Hall. She was born and raised in Reading before moving to North Reading in 1960 where she resided for the remainder of her life. Ruth attended Reading schools and was a 1952 graduate of Reading High School and also earned worthy advisor status at Rainbow Girls in Reading.
She worked at the Reading Telephone Company as an operator before marrying the love of her life, L. Donald Welch, October 15, 1955. Ruth and Donald enjoyed 67 years of marriage together.
Ruth enjoyed ceramics, gardening, dancing, horseback riding, spending time at the family cottage on Balch Lake in Maine, and loved all kinds of animals. She was such a kind and loving person with a heart of gold. Ruth would welcome everyone into her heart and home with open arms and a big smile with her beautiful blue eyes beaming bright. She was always up for an adventure, was extremely witty and always liked to have fun. We will always remember her smile and her laugh. Most of all, Ruth cherished her entire family and dear friends, especially her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
We are all heartbroken, however, comforted knowing she is now at peace after battling Alzheimer’s for many years. Ruth leaves her husband, L. Donald Welch of North Reading; son Bradford Welch and his wife Cheryl of Salem, N.H.; daughter Sheila Welch-Miller and her husband Don of Townsend; granddaughters Alycia Welch, Arielle Williams, Nicole Welch and partner Benny Guilfu, and Amber Eaton; grandsons Stephen Welch, Shane Miller, Bradford Welch and Andrew Welch and great-grandchildren Malyia, Sierra, Kip, and Eliana. She also leaves her sisters, Dorothy M. (Hall) Knowles of Reading and Nancy L. Hall of Lakeworth, Fla. Ruth was predeceased by her son Stephen D. Welch, daughter Darlene R. Welch, and brother George W. Hall Jr.
Ruth’s family received visitors at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Tuesday, January 24 from 4 – 7 p.m. A funeral service was held at the Trinity Evangelical Church, 105 Haverhill Street, North Reading on Wednesday, January 25 at 11 a.m.
Memorial donations may be made in her memory to Care Dimensions, Suite B102, 75 Sylvan Street, Danvers, MA 01923 or caredimensions.org/donate. To send an online message of condolence please go to www.croswellfuneralhome.com.
