Ruth Elizabeth (Bulley) Erskine, 95, passed away on March 1, 2023, in the virtual presence of her loving children and with her wonderful caregivers at her residence, Eastside Center for Health in Bangor, Maine. Ruth was born in Troy, Maine on December 15, 1927 to Ellick and Christine (York) Bulley (Bishop), the third of 6 siblings and lived the majority of her life in Dixmont, Maine.
Many will remember her years of service as the Dixmont Town Treasurer, working from her kitchen table with country music radio in the background. Service was a way of life for her. She volunteered helping children in the Methodist Youth Fellowship at the Dixmont United Methodist Church, taught 4-H members how to perfect their sewing skills, and transported boys for town baseball games. She fundraised as a longtime member of the Ladies’ Club, which supported town organizations and maintained the Louis I Bussey School until the church purchased it, and as a member of the Ladies’ Auxillary, which supported the Dixmont volunteer fire department. She and her husband were founding members of the Dixmont Goldcrest Riders snowmobile club, contributing to the clubhouse that still serves as a community event center.
She married Wm Roger Erskine on August 17, 1944 and theirs was a love story of partnership based on loving respect and mutual care for each other that lasted over 76 years. They did almost everything together: traveling with their tent camper or RV, snowmobiling, running businesses for which she drove bus and kept the books, growing beautiful flowers and vegetables, and raising their family. Their camp lot at “the pond” has hosted family reunions for decades. Ruth was an avid bowler for many years in leagues at Family Fun Lanes in Bangor and she was always up for a game of Yahtzee or cards, especially if sweets were part of the plan.
Ruth is survived by her loving children and their spouses: Lois and Lawrence Whitcomb and Gary and Elizabeth Erskine. Nana adored her 6 grandchildren and their spouses: Brett & Keri Dunton, Kirk & Becky Dunton, Stacy Whitcomb-Smith & Joel Smith, Marcy Whitcomb, Nicholas & Regina Erskine, and Amanda & Matt Thompson, as well as her 12 great grandchildren and great-great-grandson. She is also remembered fondly by her many nieces and nephews, and remaining friends. She is predeceased by her parents, her stepfather Ralph Bishop, and all of her siblings: Carl, Catherine, Johnny, Earl and Elaine, and also by her husband, Roger, and their oldest daughter, Dianna (Erskine) Dunton.
Relatives and friends are welcome to call from 1-3PM, Friday, May 12th, 2023, at the Hampden-Gilpatrick Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 45 Western Avenue, Hampden, 04444. Graveside services will be held following the visiting hours at 3:30PM, at the Dixmont Corner Cemetery, Dixmont. Condolences to the family may be expressed at Brookingssmith.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruth Erskine, please visit our flower store.
Many will remember her years of service as the Dixmont Town Treasurer, working from her kitchen table with country music radio in the background. Service was a way of life for her. She volunteered helping children in the Methodist Youth Fellowship at the Dixmont United Methodist Church, taught 4-H members how to perfect their sewing skills, and transported boys for town baseball games. She fundraised as a longtime member of the Ladies’ Club, which supported town organizations and maintained the Louis I Bussey School until the church purchased it, and as a member of the Ladies’ Auxillary, which supported the Dixmont volunteer fire department. She and her husband were founding members of the Dixmont Goldcrest Riders snowmobile club, contributing to the clubhouse that still serves as a community event center.
She married Wm Roger Erskine on August 17, 1944 and theirs was a love story of partnership based on loving respect and mutual care for each other that lasted over 76 years. They did almost everything together: traveling with their tent camper or RV, snowmobiling, running businesses for which she drove bus and kept the books, growing beautiful flowers and vegetables, and raising their family. Their camp lot at “the pond” has hosted family reunions for decades. Ruth was an avid bowler for many years in leagues at Family Fun Lanes in Bangor and she was always up for a game of Yahtzee or cards, especially if sweets were part of the plan.
Ruth is survived by her loving children and their spouses: Lois and Lawrence Whitcomb and Gary and Elizabeth Erskine. Nana adored her 6 grandchildren and their spouses: Brett & Keri Dunton, Kirk & Becky Dunton, Stacy Whitcomb-Smith & Joel Smith, Marcy Whitcomb, Nicholas & Regina Erskine, and Amanda & Matt Thompson, as well as her 12 great grandchildren and great-great-grandson. She is also remembered fondly by her many nieces and nephews, and remaining friends. She is predeceased by her parents, her stepfather Ralph Bishop, and all of her siblings: Carl, Catherine, Johnny, Earl and Elaine, and also by her husband, Roger, and their oldest daughter, Dianna (Erskine) Dunton.
Relatives and friends are welcome to call from 1-3PM, Friday, May 12th, 2023, at the Hampden-Gilpatrick Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 45 Western Avenue, Hampden, 04444. Graveside services will be held following the visiting hours at 3:30PM, at the Dixmont Corner Cemetery, Dixmont. Condolences to the family may be expressed at Brookingssmith.com.
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