1917 – 2014

CANTON — Ruth Robbins Adamo, 96, a lifelong resident of Wilton, passed peacefully at the Victorian Villa Nursing Care Center on Thursday, Jan. 9.

She was born Aug. 14, 1917, in Wilton, the daughter of Earl E. and Hazel M. (Marble) Robbins. She was a graduate of Wilton Academy and continued her education at Bates College, where she earned a degree in English, graduating in 1939. She was a teacher at Wilton Academy in the early ’40s and also taught in Worcester, Mass.

On Oct. 9, 1944, she married John Adamo in NYC. When they relocated back to her beloved hometown, she began her career in journalism, writing for the Wilton Times, the Franklin Journal and for many years was a well-respected local correspondent for the Lewiston Daily Sun.

Ruth’s life work was in pursuit of stories that reflected the truth of her local community. Her vocation was also her avocation, and as a local historian she researched, documented and eventually published “The History of Wilton” in 1971. Her husband, John, in his retirement, also joined her in covering local stories … she, with pen and paper in hand; he, with the car keys and his camera. The finishing touches to their stories took place in the hub of her home, her kitchen table.

In addition to writing, she enjoyed reading, music, the arts and piano, and making a comfy home for her housecats.

She is survived by a daughter, Michelle Ouellette of Lisbon Falls and her children, Torri-Jean Jones, and her sons, Miles Gannon and Drew Gannon of Lisbon, and Jesse Jones and his wife, Sandra, and their daughter, Maura Jones of Lisbon Falls, and her daughter Starr’s partner, Beverly Francis of New Portland.

Ruth was predeceased by her husband, John, who died Nov. 17, 2005; a daughter, Starr Adamo, who died Feb. 20, 2011; and a brother, “Buddy” Robbins.

Tributes and condolences may be shared with her family on her memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.