Ruth (Spear) Wells passed away peacefully on September 5, 2026 at the age of 107 at the Merrimack County Nursing Home in Boscawen, NH. Ruth was a resident there for the past six years. She was the oldest resident at the Nursing Home.
Born in Derry, NH on August 28, 1919, Ruth was the daughter of the late Dr. Walter Spear and his wife Lena of Derry. Ruth was raised and educated in the Derry school system. Ruth was a graduate of Pinkerton Academy in Derry Class of 1937. In 2020 Ruth was featured in the Pinkerton Academy Alumnus as the longest living graduate at the Academy. In addition, Ruth also earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of New Hampshire Class of 1941. Soon after Ruth graduated from the University, she began her career as a kindergarten teacher in Derry, opening up her own kindergarten, the "Ruth Wells Kindergarten" for 20 years. Many of her former kindergartens still remember their days at the kindergarten with many fond memories. Ruth retired from her kindergarten in 1976 and moved to Barefoot Bay, FL with her husband John. In Barefoot Bay, Ruth volunteered for meals on wheels, the public library, and as a kindergarten teacher’s aide in Sabastian, FL for many years.
Ruth loved being with her family and was an avid animal lover. Ruth also loved watching her favorite TV show Wheel of Fortune, daily, which she was especially good at solving all the puzzles. She also loved her crossword puzzles. Ruth also was a painter, painting beautiful pictures for her family and friends. In Feb. 2025 Ruth was the recipient of the "Boston Post Cane' Award, for being the oldest living resident in Boscawen, NH.
Ruth is survived by her daughter Polly (Wells) Tewksbury and her husband Steve, (formerly of Derry and Chester) now living in Gilmanton, NH, five grandchildren, Steve Tewksbury and his wife Christine of Auburn, NH, Shawn Tewksbury and his wife Stephanie of Milford NH, Stacy (Tewksbury) Fawcett and her husband Greg of Loudon, NH, Jonathan Wells of Portsmouth NH and Gabe Wells of Denver, CO, eleven great-grandchildren. Ruth was predeceased by her husband John in 1991 and her son John on Jan. 1, 2026, and by her sister Dr. Pauline Spear of Claremont NH in 2006.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, September 9th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10:00am in St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 26 Crystal Ave., Derry. The burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery, E. Derry Rd., East Derry, NH.