DEXTER--Ruth Pingree Knowles, 97, went to be with her Lord & Savior on February 16, 2009 at Dexter Health Care. She was born February 1, 1912 in Parkman, a daughter of Jesse and Annie (Richardson) Nutting.

Her mother passed away soon after her birth and she was brought up by Auntie Leighton. Ruth often told that upon her birth, she was so small that she fit in a shoe box and was kept warm in a woodstove oven. She was a graduate of Guilford High School, was a member of the First Baptist Church of Dexter, and also attended the Pleasant Street Christian Church of Corinna. Ruth was a 50 year member of the Dexter Grange and a member of the Golden Age Club of Dexter. She spent many summers at Rumney Bible Camp in New Hampshire. She was an avid fisherman and enjoyed many hours with her friends Eula Towle, Bea Ogden, Georgina Burton and Kathleen Hanson on the pier at Moosehead Lake in Greenville. She is also survived by a special friend, Arlene Anderson. Ruth loved her camp on Big Indian Lake in St. Albans and enjoyed card games, basketball, and loved playing miniature golf. Ruth worked as a cook at Sweetser Children's Home in Saco and Plummer Memorial Hospital in Dexter. She was also employed at Snow Flake Canning Company in Corinna. Ruth lived at Elizabeth House in Dexter for 3 years.

She is survived by 2 sons, Keith and wife Leola of Dexter and Jesse and wife Marion Pingree of Ripley; 6 grandchildren, Jean Moreno, K. David, Roger K., Robert H., Paul and Kevin Pingree; 9 great grandchildren, Adam and Jessica Moreno, Logan, Jared, Garrett, Ashley, Amanda, Bradley and Colleen Pingree.

She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Lester Pingree; and her second husband, Frank Knowles; a son, Robert; a daughter, Phyllis Street; and 3 grandsons, Brian Street, Stephen and Mark Pingree; and by her beloved dog, Buffy.

Funeral services will be held 1 PM Wednesday, February 18th, at Crosby & Neal, Dexter, with Pastor A. Maurice Neal officiating. Spring burial will be in the Ferndale Cemetery, Ripley.