Loyal Falmouth Volunteer Ruth P. Seller Dies at 88

Ruth P. Seller died March 31 after a short illness. She was 88.

Ruth was born in Wellesley Hills in 1918 to Emma Kelley Pigeon and Richard Pigeon. She was graduated from Miss Hall's School in Pittsfield in 1934, Garland Junior College in 1936 and Pine Manor College in 1938. She worked as a teacher's assistant in Boston prior to marrying Welles T. (Brud) Seller in 1942; she then joined him in Greenville, Miss., where he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. After the war they moved to Greenfield, where she lived for more than 30 years. In Greenfield she volunteered for the Greenfield Hospital Auxiliary and garden club, and raised three children.

Ruth was a summer resident of Menauhant, East Falmouth, for her whole life, and this was where, as a teenager, she met her future husband, Brud. In Menauhant she was an avid tennis player, sailor and motorboat enthusiast, who spent weeks cruising on their beloved boat, the Nike. Ruth and Brud retired to Menauhant in 1978 where they spent happy years boating and visiting with her five grandchildren. She was also a volunteer with the Falmouth Hospital Auxiliary and a member of the Waquoit Congregational Church.

Ruth attracted all the neighborhood children to her with a friendly smile and genuine interest. This interest in other people grew to be a signpost of her character. Friends described Ruth as not having a mean bone in her body. In addition to her love of people, Ruth loved her dogs and parakeets. She enjoyed needlepoint and beautiful examples of her work decorated her home.

Ruth and Brud would have celebrated 64 years of marriage on May 30. All their family and friends thought of them as an example of true love, and even in their very elder years they stared at each other in wonder. They died within three weeks of each other.

Ruth is survived by two daughters and a son, Deborah Pigeon of Oak Bluffs, Jane S. Smith of West Springfield and James T. Seller of West Tisbury. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Hallie M. Armer of Oak Bluffs, Eben J. Armer of West Tisbury, Wesley Smith of Missoula, Mont., Justin A. Smith of Tampa, Fla., and Chase T. Seller of West Tisbury.

A memorial service will be held on July 8 at 4 p.m. at Grace Memorial Chapel in East Falmouth. The memorial will also include her beloved sister, Judith P. Brainerd, and her beloved husband, Welles T. Seller. There will be a reception to follow.

Donations may be made in Ruth's name to the Falmouth Service Center in Falmouth.