Obituaries

Carol J. Ruroede

Former Greenport resident Carol J. Ruroede, 79, died March 6 at her home on Cudjoe Key, Fla.

Born Sept. 15, 1933, in St. Louis, Mo., to West Earl and Ruth Cochran Needham, she married Vance Wilson, with whom she had three children, and in 1963, she married Walter (Chuck) Ruroede, who predeceased her in 1965.

Carol received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from Colorado University, and her love of language continued throughout her life. She enjoyed verbal sparring with friends, was a voracious reader, loved doing crossword puzzles, especially the Sunday New York Times puzzle, and won “millions” watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.

Carol had a green thumb; at one time she had 75 houseplants. She enjoyed swimming, sailing, water- and snow skiing, camping, dancing and playing bridge and volleyball with “the ladies.” She helped out with the Greenport High School field hockey and softball teams and got involved with the North Fork Animal Welfare League (NFAWL).

She was quite handy and artistic — refinishing “treasures” from yard sales or carving evil pumpkins and making costumes for Halloween. Come Christmas she would create beautiful wreaths. She also enjoyed all kinds of music — from Henry Mancini to Led Zeppelin.

Carol is survived by her children, Deirdre Praught (Mark) of Cudjoe Key, West Ruroede of Greenport and Karen “Lamb” Wiltshire (Andy) of Eastanollee, Ga.; her brothers, William Needham of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Robert Needham (Ruth Lee) of Port Washington, N.Y.; nieces, Patti, Nancy, Jan and Betsey; and nephews, Andy, Bart and Carl; as well as great-nieces and great-nephews.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be held in Greenport this summer.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either the North Fork Animal Welfare League or Floyd Memorial Library.

This is a paid notice.