Ruth L Ricker

RUTH L. RICKER October 31, 2025

Ruth Lillian (Hodges) Ricker, 97, passed away on Friday, October 31, 2025. She lived at

Havenwood Heritage Heights in Concord, N.H.

Ruth was born on June 1, 1928 in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Albert Warren and Lillian Adams

(Richardson) Hodges. She was the oldest of three sisters.

Ruth started school in Milford, N.H. and graduated from Portsmouth High School after the family moved to Greenland. She studied music at the New England Conservatory of Music at the University of New Hampshire where she received her music degree. She worked as Supervisor of Music in the Meredith Public Schools.

She then married her husband, Edwin, who predeceased her after 70 years of marriage. They lived 60 years in Contoocook before moving to Heritage Heights in 2017.

Music was a major part of her life. Ruth was an organist and choir director at various churches as well as playing in the bell choir for 42 years. She taught piano for most of her life, beginning in college with the Durham Reelers and continuing all her life with the Concord Coach group and others. She also enjoyed square and round dancing. Her younger years included tap dancing.

Ruth enjoyed hiking and did all but four of the New Hampshire 4000 footers as well as other hikes throughout our beautiful state.

She volunteered at the Senior Center in Contoocook and helped with cooking and cleaning up after the weekly Wednesday meals. Ruth enjoyed sewing and made many of her own clothes. She later took up quilting as a hobby and spent many pleasant hours with friends piecing together quilts and other craft items.

Ruth leaves behind her daughter, Nancy Muir, of Phoenix, AZ and son, Gary Ricker of Merrimack, NH, two sisters, Evelyn Laber of Columbia Falls, MT and Marian Kelsey of Lee, NH, two granddaughters, Melissa Ricker of Hudson, NH and Felicia Webster of Manchester, NH as well as two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held in the spring. You are encouraged to wear blue – it was her favorite color.

Services are under the care of Holt-Woodbury Funeral Home. www.holtwoodburyfh.com.