Ruth Meader Merrill died of pancreatic cancer on June 8 at her Camp Ground cottage in Oak Bluffs.

She was born in Leominster on April 12, 1918. She lived in many New England towns during her youth. She spent her adult life in West Hartford, Conn., and Lancaster. She was an active member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and lived a life of service to others. In recent years she spent her winters in Florida but considered the Vineyard her home. She was a member of the Camp Ground community for 69 years, especially enjoying the Wednesday evening community sings and Bible studies.

Ruth participated in the activities at the Oak Bluffs Council on Aging, making friends with summer visitors and year-round residents alike. She enjoyed teaching her handicraft skills to others.

She was predeceased by her husband Donald in 1954 and by her daughter Judy in 1985.

Survivors include her son, David and his wife, Ilga Merrill of Plainville, Conn.; her daughters, Beth and her husband, Jack Currie of South Lancaster, and Janice Merrill of La Crescenta, Calif.; her son in law Peter Contompasis and his wife Betty; two special nieces, Marsha Lyon of Putnam, Conn. and Kim Kelly of Clinton; 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; a dear friend Malcolm Grossman of Yosemite, Calif., with whom she shared many great travel adventures; her siblings Marjorie Peters of Peachtree, Ga.; Pauline Davis of Putnam, Conn.; Ray Meader of Tolland, Conn.; Jane Olschfskie of Orlando, Fla.; and Richard Meader of Yucapia, Calif.

A memorial service will be held on July 21 at 11 a.m. in the Trinity Methodist Church on the grounds of the Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruth's memory to the Oak Bluffs Council on Aging Quilt Fund, P.O. Box 1379 or the Vineyard Nursing Association, P.O. Box 2568, both in Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.