Ruth Dorcas Edgerly Calhoun

RUTH DORCAS EDGERLY CALHOUN, one of the last of the Greatest Generation, died of old age on September 2, 2022. Ruth was born in Bridgton, Maine on April 18, 1923, the tenth child of Hubert Roy and Agnes Cutting Edgerly. Following her graduation from Ellsworth, ME high school, she worked as a telephone operator until she joined the Navy “WAVES” in 1943. This small-town Maine girl took the first step on what was to be a lifetime of travel. She underwent her basic training at Hunter College in New York City, and upon graduation was posted to the Naval Air Station at Jacksonville, Florida. She worked there as a yeoman and as a target plane spotter. She was spotted herself by a tall Marine gate guard who had just completed his tour of duty in the South Pacific. She and John Caldwell Calhoun eloped (without telling their CO’s) and were married on November 25, 1944.

John took a job in sales with General Foods, and the moves began: first, to Philadelphia, then Baltimore, Kansas City, Chicago, Arlington Heights IL, White Plains NY, Yorktown Heights NY, Modesto CA, and finally in 1963 to Indianapolis, where she was to remain for the rest of her life. Well, as far as her residence anyway. Ruth and John became charter members of the Ambassadair Travel Club and began taking advantage of the club’s jet tours all over the world, visiting many spots in Europe, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii. When John no longer cared to take such trips, Ruth would shanghai a friend or go solo to national park destinations and Alaska. Once, on a family tour of New England, she returned to Ellsworth to stay in a B&B which had been her own family’s former home! She got to sleep in her old bedroom that she had not seen for nearly 60 years. In later years, she was accompanied on her various journeys by one of her children, toting her bags and making sure she made the bus or plane.

Ruth also enjoyed her lengthy stays with family in California, especially the annual July week in the high Sierras on Fallen Leaf Lake adjacent to Tahoe. Always generous, each year she brought different family members along to enjoy the fun. Well into her 80’s she would join in on the 5+ mile (rt) hike from Carson Pass (el. 8574) to Lake Winnemucca, another 600 feet higher, over many ups and downs and rocky parts. Slow, but sure, her goal was the spectacular wildflowers along the way, and one of our favorite photos is of her standing chest-high in a gorgeous mountain meadow.

Ruth was extremely proud of her WAVE service, long participated in round-robin letters with her old mates, and stayed active in frequent reunions around the country well into her 90’s, until their numbers dwindled to a precious few and travel became impracticable. Ruth’s service is memorialized at the Women In Military Service Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Ruth and John were active members of Faith Presbyterian Church for many decades, giving generously of their time and money. Ruth particularly enjoyed her volunteer staff work counting and recording the donations, creating hundreds of craft items for the church bazaars, and participating in the local excursions organized through the church. She made a great many friends there, but outlived virtually every one except her treasured couple, Jack and Rose Tupman, for whose many kindnesses we are thankful.
Ruth was preceded in death by John (2000), daughter, Nancy (1994), and granddaughter, Katelyn (2010). She is survived by son, Jon (Alana Cohrs), son, Wayne (Tina Splady), and daughter, Susan (Dan Kelley), twelve grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and 7 great great grandchildren. Dozens of family members have a handmade memory of her in the form of the large Christmas stockings she knitted for nearly 70 years. Her good cheer, generosity, and sneaky wit are missed by all.

The family wishes to sincerely thank the dedicated staffs at Traditions at Willow North and at Seasons Hospice for all their care to Ruth, with special thanks to Seasons nurse, Kerry Lucas for her comfort during this final, difficult year. Ruth will be laid to rest in a private ceremony in Oaklawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.