Ruth Wilcoxson, 89, passed away peacefully on December 1 after a long illness. Born in Great Barrington on May 12, 1927, she was the daughter of Richard and Annie Sweeney Tully. Ruth graduated from Searles High School in 1945 and St. Luke’s Hospital School of Radiology in Pittsfield in 1946. Employed in the radiology and cardiology departments of Fairview Hospital, she retired in 1994 after 40 years of service.
Ruth married Willis Wilcoxson in 1947 in Great Barrington, where they raised their family. They enjoyed vacationing in Myrtle Beach, Florida, Cape Cod and Bar Harbor, where Ruth loved the lighthouses and walking on the beach. She cherished the special times with her grandsons Kris and Blake, going on their little adventures, and later enjoyed watching her great-grandchildren.
Ruth is survived by Willis, her husband of 69 years, as well as her son, Jeffrey (Janice) of Nashua, NH, and her daughter, Jean Raifstanger (Timothy) of Alford, Mass. She was the loving Ommy to two grandsons, Kristopher (Aimee) of Sandisfield and Blake of Alford, as well as her great-grandchildren, Chevelle, Sadie and Kasen, and “step-grandson” Keegan.
Ruth also leaves step-grandsons Brian, Kevin and Patrick Thomas (Rebecca), as well as many nieces and nephews and their families. She was predeceased by her brothers, Richard and John Tully, and her sisters, Ann Walsh, Kathleen Congdon and Mary Lucey.
At Ruth’s request, there will be no calling hours. A graveside service for family and friends will be held at Elmwood Cemetery in Great Barrington on Friday, December 9, at 9 a.m. Those who desire may make donations in her memory to Geer Foundation, 77 South Canaan Road, Canaan, CT 06018 or through the “Support Us” tab at geercares.org. The family wishes to extend sincerest thanks to the staff at Geer Village and Cardinal Court in Geer Nursing Home for their care of Ruth; their kindness and compassion will forever be remembered.
