" "Ruthie" "Russie" "Snookie" Ruth E. (Snook)Gould, 90, passed away on Nov. 12, 2010, at Hadley at Elaine, Hadley, MA, where she lived for the past six years. She was born July 31, 1920 in Somerville, MA, daughter of George Everett Snook and Mildred (Farnham) Snook. Raised in Stoneham, Medford and Somerville she was the youngest member of a "Sub Deb" club of 14 girls beginning in junior high school. The affiliation was to last a lifetime, including the spouses and children of the members. Ruth was one of the last two living members. The remaining lady is still in touch with Ruth's daughter, Chris. A "city girl" who visited Boston once a month for much of her married lifetime living in Belchertown, she was known in town for her love of hats. Ruth was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Sherman Gould , in Sept. 2010, and in recent years by her sister, Evelyn (Snook) Cavanagh, Lexington, MA, and her brother, George Elmore Snook, Stoneham, MA. She lived through the Great Depression and WWII. She and her husband were apart for his overseas assignment in England so their first wedding anniversary together was their third. After the war they became part of a club for about twenty Belchertown couples called Club 65, which they and their children enjoyed for many years. They met monthly in homes and enjoyed camping trips together. The club name changed several times, since the number indicated the combined ages of the husband and wife. Hence, Club 65 became Club 85, etc. Again, Ruth was one of two surviving members still in town. The Farnham side of her family was most immmediately from Belgrade, ME, with English roots and settlement in Andover, MA. The Snooks (contraction of Seven Oaks) came originally from England to Holland and then to Carbonear, Newfoundland as fishermen. Her father's family then lived in Portsmouth, NH. It was collective consciousness that made Ruth love the ocean. The Snook family tree includes ministers and music lovers, seen also in the present generations. Ruth was married on March 13, 1943 in Miami, FL to her husband of 67 years, Sherman Gould. Their children are Joanne Lane, Surprise, AZ; Christine Harper and her husband, Richard, Belchertown; and the Rev. Jeffrey Gould, Padiham, U.K. Their grandchildren are Eric Amundsen and his wife Brindha Muniappan, Lexington, MA; Bethany Giammalvo and her husband Michael, New Bedford, MA; Justin Harper, Arlington, MA; and foster granddaughter, Tina (Coutu) Kingsley and her husband, Peter, Hadley, MA. Great-grandchildren are Manu and Jeevan Muniappan-Amundsen, Lexington, MA; Emily Giammalvo, New Bedford, MA; and foster great-grandson Peter Russell, Hadley, MA. Ruth was class of '38 Somerville High School. She fulfilled her dream of becoming an R.N. at Newton-Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing, class of '42. It was during this training that she would enjoy weekend visits to Belchertown by train with her nursing classmate, Rachel Fuller (later Collard), who arranged a blind date with her childhood friend, Sherm Gould. Also at Newton were Sherm's cousin Betty Ketchen ; Charlotte Parker, who would marry Sherm's cousin Gould Ketchen; and the future Clare Oberly. At age 52 Ruth earned her B.S. at Springfield College. She took lifelong C.E. credits and training workshops on issues of interest to her medical career. Her daughter Joanne would become an R.N., serving in hospitals, offices and the Army Medical Reserve. During WWII Ruth worked as a nurse in Florida, working often with the Seminole population. Back in Cambridge, MA, she did industrial nursing at Dewey and Almay Chemical Company. In 1943 she was called off private duty at Mass General to aid the victims of the tragic Coconut Grove nightclub disaster, which changed fire laws in MA. Initially she worked at the scene to mark the foreheads with lipstick as each received morphine. She remained on care for the severely burned for a long time afterward. This experience affected her for a lifetime and effected her entire family's interest in fire safety and prevention. In the late 40's and 50's she did private duty nursing in the Belchertown area, and worked night shift at Mary Lane Hospital, Ware. Ruth had a gift shop in her home in the 40' and 50's and also sold Beauty Counselor products. In the summer of 1955 she was nurse for Camp Naiad, Turner, ME. In the 1960's and early 70's Ruth held many positions at Belchertown State School in employee orientation, unit director for several buildings, education department where she produced the first gym show , and was a proponent for the community release program. From 1972 until retirement in 1980, she did community health nursing covering 19 towns. A member of the Belchertown United Church of Christ for over 50 years, Ruth was active in the Women's Guild, the Double or Nothing Club and church musicals. She had a Girl Scout troop in the 1950's. A longtime member of the Belchertown Historical Association, she loved participating in the vintage fashion shows. While employed at BSS Ruth invited residents to her home for candlelight birthday dinners. She served on local boards to benefit retarded citizens. For a few years she hiked with the Quabbinaires. Many times she gave her nursing skills gratis in the community. Ruth's favorite love was the ocean. She looked for any excuse to light her dining experience with candles. Early in her marriage she started a china shoe collection. Later in life she collected clowns and acted as a clown for charity with her friend Ken Collard. A strong proponent of education and its importance, Ruth was extremely progressive. She wrote one of the first sex education programs for the mentally retarded. She dealt with difficult psychosocial issues through board work and volunteer speaking for non-profits. In the 40's she spoke out for civil rights in the the South. She sincerely cared about all people and would speak on their behalf , whether relatives or strangers. She was kind and generous. Memorial contributions may be made to the Belchertown Firefighters Association, PO Box 1043, Belchertown, MA 01007 and/or the Belchertown Community Band c/o Mary Avery, 40 Ware Rd - Unit 5, Belchertown, MA 01007. Private family services will be held in the spring at the funeral parlor that was her husband's aunt and uncle's home. Interment will be at Mt Hope Cemetery, Belchertown, on land given by her husband's great-grandfather behind the family compound where his father grew up. Arrangements are handled by Beers and Story Belchertown Funeral Home. Online guestbook www. Beersandstory.com."