Mrs. Ruth Carpenter Wessells, 93, passed away on July 5, 2020, at Westerly Hospital, Westerly, R.I. She was born Sept. 14, 1926, in Noank, Conn., to George Carpenter and Eunice (Brown) Carpenter.
Ruth grew up in Noank. She graduated from Robert Fitch High School in Groton, Conn., in 1944. After high school she worked as a secretary for a factory in Mystic, Conn., and was later employed at Bradley’s Department Store in Groton. She moved to Hacks Neck in the early ’70s with her husband, John Garcia, who died in 1983. She then worked at NAM Hospital as a receptionist where she met Sherman Wessells. She married Sherman in 1999 and moved to Wachapreague until 2004, then relocated to Chincoteague Island. Sherman passed away in 2011 and she continued to live on Chincoteague Island until she moved back to live in North Stonington, Conn., with her sister, Eunice, in 2019.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husbands, John Garcia and Sherman Wessells; her daughters, Deanna McDonald and Constance Eisenhour; son, Brian Roberts; and stepchildren, John Garcia Jr. and Mary Acito.
Ruth is survived by her sons, Kim (BJ) Garcia, of Breckenridge, Colo., Seth (Christina) Garcia, of California, and Robert (Cindy) Hanson, of Keller, Texas; sister, Eunice Schaub, of Stonington, Conn.; grandchildren, Linnea Harding, Tammy and Jenny Roberts, and Ray Jr. and Andra Sailey; nieces and nephews, Kathleen Rinkes (Olivia, Ray, and Desirae), Steven and Julie Schaub, Terry Mitchell, and Susan McKay (Skylar and Ellis); and other relatives.
Ruth had a loving heart with many friends and family left behind that will miss her dearly. Her many friends will remember her by the many letters she wrote, keeping close to her friends and adding sweet little notes to every service, invoice, or correspondence she received. She enjoyed her drives to Assateague seashore, where she would watch the waves comes in, listen to the wind, and give updates on how the dunes looked.
Her mind was still sharp even at 93. Ruth loved to read books with her cat, Ola, by her side, travel when she was still able to get around, and crochet gifts for her friends. She was working on a braided rug that was close to being finished that her sister hopes to finish for her.
She was torn last fall when she moved from Chincoteague back to be with her sister, whom she spoke with many times every day. Her many good friends missed her and were sad to see her leave. Miss Ruth will be missed.
A memorial service (Celebration of Life) will be to be determined and held at a later date. Remains will be dispersed per her wishes.
