HARTFORD -
The Gods are dancing in heaven because one of the best bakers in the world has come home. Ruth Evelyn Armstrong, 90, passed away on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at The Orchard Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre in Granville, NY.

Ruth was born on July 31, 1919 in a farm house across from Martin Pond in the Town of Granville where her father had worked as a farm laborer. She was the daughter of the late Milton Robert and Mae Belle (Allen) Chapin, Sr.

On August 22, 1941 Ruth married the love of her life and the boy next door, Lynn Albert Armstrong. After moving to the next farm up the hill, she spent most of her life farming and raising a family. She and Lynn were married 66 years until his death in 2008.

To supplement the farm income she sold baked goods and hand knit items at various farmers' markets with her cousin Marion Gibbs. For fourteen years she sold her wares at the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce flea market. Each week she used 30 pounds of flour, 25 pounds of sugar, 10 dozen eggs and 10 pounds of butter to make her pies, cakes, cookies and other treats. Over the years she also sold Dutchmaid clothes, Stanley Home Products, Sarah Coventry jewelry, and was an Avon dealer for many years.

Ruth was a member of the Hartford Grange, the Order of Eastern Star, the Home Bureau, the Pamona Grange, the First Baptist Church of Hartford and the Ladies Aide Society now known as the Women's Fellowship. She was on the Board of Directors of the Washington Co. Extension Service for four years and volunteered for the Hartford Fireman's Bazaar.Besides her parents and husband she was predeceased by her sisters: Nettie Hoffer and her husband Robert; Catherine McCabe; Betty Breason and her husband Harold; Agnes Yole and her husband James and Jean Knowlton; her brothers, Floyd Chapin and his wife Vernetta and Milton Robert Chapin, Jr.

Ruth is survived by her four children: Richard Armstrong and his wife Nancy of Hartford; Milton "Mike" Armstrong of Granville; Donald Armstrong and his wife Sharon of Hartford and Linda Reid and her husband Robert of Cobleskill; her grandchildren: Cathy Irwin and her husband Roger of Johnsonville; Trudy Pruiksma and her husband Michael of Cobleskill; Richard Armstrong, Jr. and his wife Allison of Poughquag; Kyle and Kevin Armstrong of Hartford; Jacob Reid of Somerville, MA, Steven and Daniel Reid of Cobleskill and seven great-grandchildren; her sister Norma Ann Inman of Indian Rivers Nursing Home, Granville; her brother-in-law Rowland Knowlton of Florida, sisters-in-law Pat Hayes of Hudson Falls, Melanie Chapin of Whitehall, Elizabeth Brayton of Hudson Falls and Evelyn Roy of South Glens Falls and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Ruth will also be missed by her extended family at The Orchard.

Friends and family may call from Thursday, March 11, 2010 from 2-4 and 6:30-8:30pm at M. B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 123 Main Street, Argyle, NY 12809. On-line condlences may be sent at www.kilmerfuneralhome.com.

Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Friday, March 12, 2010 at 11am with the Rev. Patti Girard, officiating. Following the services at the funeral home, all are invited to the Hartford Volunteer Fire co., Route 40, Hartford of a reception.

Burial will be 1:00pm Saturday, May 8, 2010 at Morningside Cemetery, Hartford.

Donations may be made in Ruth's name to Hartford Yoked Parish, P.O. Box 40, Main Street, Hartford, NY 12838 or Hartford Volunteer Fire Co., P.O. Box 121, Hartford, NY 12838.

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