Ruth Clarke

Ruth Clarke, 85, of Campbellford, and formerly Grey County Ontario, passed away on April 21st, 2026 at The Bridge Hospice in Warkworth, Ontario. Ruth was born on May 30, 1940, to Ivan and Marjorie Charlton in Malahide Township. After Ruth graduated from Clarke Road Secondary School in 1958, she went on to study nursing at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1961. That same year, she married Arthur Clarke at Avon United Church. Before starting a family with Art, Ruth worked as a nurse at Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital, while living in Norwich Ontario.

In 1969 Ruth and Art bought a small homestead near Holland Centre, Ontario, and there, they raised their three children, David born in 1963, Susanne born in 1965 and Paul born in 1967. Together, they spent years renovating and rehabilitating their property named Stonebrook, eventually creating a charming home with extensive gardens. While her family was young, she worked at Grey Owen Lodge in Markdale, the Owen Sound Hospital, and at Participation Lodge in Holland Centre. She retired from nursing in 1986, and continued to enjoy gardening, reading, canoeing, camping, hiking, cross-country skiing and traveling with Art, her devoted husband of nearly 65 years.

Ruth was a person of deep faith and spent many years volunteering at the United Church in Holland Centre and the United Church Women’s Group. She and Art enjoyed traveling together immensely. In 1987, they spent a year in New Zealand on a professional teaching exchange. While there, Ruth worked at Art’s school in a Reading Recovery program, helping children with literacy. Ruth and Art also spent many winters in Mexico, where Ruth volunteered teaching English as a second language in small communities where they stayed. At home, Ruth continued her philanthropy. For many years, she and Art hosted an annual Daffodil Garden Tour at their property in Holland Centre, raising money for cancer research.

Ruth was predeceased by her father Ivan Charlton, her mother Marjorie Charlton and her grandson, Graham Clarke. She is survived by her husband, Arthur; her son David, and his wife Donna Lynn (nee Shaw); her daughter Susanne (nee Clarke), and her husband Jamie McLean; her son Paul, and his wife Kelly (nee Gallant); David’s children, Kevin Clarke and Julie Clarke; Donna Lynn’s son Ryan Hausdorf and his fiancee Catherine O’Connor, and Donna Lynn’s daughter Emma Hausdorf; and Paul and Kelly’s son Jackson Clarke, and his fiancee Zoe Davids.

Ruth’s memorial service will be held at Highland United Church in Eugenia Ontario on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Visitation will begin at 11:00 am, followed by a service at 12:00 pm and a luncheon. Interment will be at 2:30 pm at Mount Zion Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Bridge Hospice in Warkworth, Ontario, the Campbellford Memorial Hospital Foundation or Highland United Church in Eugenia, Ontario.

Online condolences and donations can be made at www.fawcettfuneralhome.ca