November 29, 1943 - April 20, 2021
Ruth L. Anderson of Loveland, CO died April 20th after a short illness. Ruth was born on November 29, 1943, one of four beautiful daughters of Carl and Irene Anderson. She grew up on a working farm in Concord, MA and graduated from Concord-Carlisle High School, where she was voted “Most Talented” in her class. She married another Concord native, Thomas D. Edmonds, and had two children. After their marriage ended, she steadily advanced her education, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Musical Theatre from Westminster College in Salt Lake City and a Master’s degree in Recreational Therapy from the University of Utah.
Ruth was a master at creating opportunities for herself to do the things that she loved. She worked at numerous positions, but the one she loved best was as a Recreation Specialist for the Brighton Recreation Center in Brighton, CO. In that position, she created and managed recreational and community opportunities for children and teens. MANY children affectionately called her "gramma." MANY children came to her for help and advice, and she was instrumental in their lives as they grew from teenagers to young adults. For many years she was a passionate organizer of the Metro Mayors and Commissioners Youth Awards, an Adams County program which recognizes children in the community who have overcome serious obstacles in their lives. Many of her nominees earned scholarships through this program and become the first in their families to go on to college.
She was also active in the Brighton arts community, where she was active in theatre, served on the Brighton Cultural Arts Commission, and sang with the BrightonMusic choir.
Ruth is survived by daughter Catherine Anderson of Acton, CA and daughter Karen Edmonds and her partner Raymond Martinez, of Loveland, CO; grandson James McCool and partner Margaret Duda and great-grandson Damascus Gideon McCool. Two sisters survive her: Jean Lord of Bolton, MA and Pauline Oliver of Concord, MA. Ruth also leaves eight nieces and nephews. Her parents and her younger sister, Ingrid, preceded her from this life.
Ruth loved to travel. As a military wife, she lived all over the United States. She finally settled in Colorado, where she had many adventures with her family and with her dog, Willow. Her last road trip was on a bright sunny day in October, right before fall turns to winter--one of those days when the sun still feels good on your skin, when the sky is a robin’s-egg blue and when the aspen leaves in Colorado shimmer every shade of gold. Up the Big Thompson Canyon to a place where the river becomes a little stream, and you can watch Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep make their way up into the mountains above. Returning, she stopped at a little roadside store where she loved to go for cherry pie—her favorite. From there, she took the old dirt road home...a one lane wagon road, a road less traveled and only known by a few, just like the roads that she so purposefully chose throughout her life on this earth.
She is now part of that beautiful place, and we will remember her with every spring shower, summer breeze, in the autumn leaves, and the winter snowfall. She lives on in the mountains, the clouds, the sky, and the beautiful Colorado sunsets.
A graveside service will be held in Concord, MA in June. As a remembrance of her, the family asks that you consider making a donation to any organization that benefits animals.
