Ruth Webb Thayer

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Ruth Webb Thayer, 94, an amazing woman, widow of William H. Thayer, for whom the William Thayer Arena was named, passed away on Friday, January 29, 2016.

She was the daughter of the late Victor K. and Mary H. (Wood) Webb. A graduate of Classical High School class of 1939, she was chairperson of many reunions. Ruth was the Providence High School Girl’s Tennis champion for 3 straight years and twice The March of Dimes Women’s Doubles Winner. She graduated from Pembroke College at Brown University in 1943, and was a charter member and past president of the Brown Alumnae Club of Kent County. At Brown she was a member of the varsity tennis, basketball and field hockey teams. She remained active in the Brown Community including participating in Commencement and the Thomas Becket Association.

For almost thirty years Ruth taught elementary school in Warwick, and was 1979 Warwick Teacher of the Year and Warwick Teachers’ Union Building Representative at John Brown Francis School. She was also a member of the RI Federation of Teachers, Warwick Retired Teachers and RI Retired Teachers Association. In 1978, she became a Lifetime Honorary Member of the Shore Acres Association, where she summered and directed children’s activities. A communicant of St. Catherine’s Church, she had been President of St. William’s Church Rosary and Altar Society, CCD teacher, a member of the Parish Council and volunteer for the Catholic Charity Fund Appeal.

Ruth was a charter member and officer of Warwick Junior Women’s Club and Epsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society. Other memberships include Volunteers in Warwick Schools, Lakewood-Norwood Neighborhood Girls Scouts of RI, Friends of Warwick Public Library and West Bay Tennis Club. She volunteered at Kent Regency Nursing Home, Trinity Repertory Company, Providence Performing Arts Center and Newport Tennis Casino Tournaments. Since 1965, she has presented the William H. Thayer Award to the outstanding RI high school hockey player scoring the most assists in the season.

She is survived by daughters, Paula Thayer Silvia of North Kingstown, Jill Thayer of NY; grandchildren, Shana, Alexandra and Brittany Don; great grandchildren, Portia and Bond Roncati; and brother Robert Webb of East Greenwich. She was pre-deceased by brother Victor Webb and sister Arline Goes.

Many thanks to the kind, caring staff at Greenwich Bay.

Donations in her memory may be made to Thomas Becket Association, Brown University, PO Box 1931, Providence, RI 02912 or Brookdale Greenwich Bay, Att: Associates Fund, 945 Main St., East Greenwich, RI 02818.

Her funeral was held on Tuesday, February 2, from the Barrett & Cotter Funeral Home, 1328 Warwick Avenue, Spring Green, Warwick, with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Catherine Church, 3252 Post Road, Apponaug. Burial was in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. www.barrettandcotter.com