Ruth Almera Van Hoek (Parsons) of Carlisle, MA, formerly of Needham, MA and Stow, ME passed away on January 9, 2018 at the age of 95.  She was born in Arlington, MA, daughter of Edwin Webber Parsons and Ethel Faunce Marsh.  Ruth was raised in Lowell, MA and Nashua, NH.   She attended Colby College, Waterville, ME for two years and graduated from Simmons College in 1944.

Ruth met her husband, Walter R. Van Hoek, while he attended Andover Newton Theological School and commenced her life’s work as a minister’s wife and homemaker.    In later years, she worked for the Illinois Bar Association, Tufts University and the Carroll County Trust in Conway, NH.   Ruth and Walter retired to Stow, Maine where they enjoyed a country life style of week- long backpacking trips, gardening, maple sugaring and making new friends as they continued their commitment to the local community.   Ruth held great appreciation for music, especially choral music.  She played the  piano and organ and sang in many choirs and musical groups over the years.   She especially enjoyed singing in the Needham Congregational Church choir in her later years up to the age of 92.   She is survived by her daughter Deborah Abraham and husband K.M. Abraham of Needham, MA, her daughter Sandra Dolins and husband, David Dolins of Carlisle, MA and her grandson, Robert Walter Dolins and his wife Amanda Dolins of Ayer, MA.  She was preceded in death by her husband Walter R. Van Hoek and her brother       E. Spencer Parsons.

A memorial service will be held at the Needham Congregational Church, 1154 Great Plain Avenue, Needham, MA on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2 P.M.   Memorial donations may be made to The Congregational Church of Needham (Music Fund noted) or The Perkins Library, 175 N. Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472-2790.

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