Obituary of Ruth Arline Spencer

A longtime resident of Denville, NJ, Ruth Arline (Holden) Spencer, 94, passed away peacefully on August 15, 2025, at St. Claire’s Hospital. Ruth was born on September 26, 1930 in Woburn, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of George. H. Holden (Marion) of Stoneham, MA and Gladys M. Dexter Kendall (Albert) of North Reading, MA.

Ruth attended Woburn High School and was the Salutatorian of her class in 1948. After graduation Ruth attended business school where she completed secretarial courses and went on to work for Dr. Francis Schmitt, a pioneer in molecular biology at M.I.T. She was a member of the M.I.T. Choral Society and traveled and performed with them in Germany. While working at M.I.T. Ruth met her husband, John. After their marriage, Ruth and John lived in Battle Creek, MI, then Cornwall On The Hudson, NY before settling down in Denville, NJ where they raised their two boys, John Jr. and Andrew.

Ruth loved Denville, residing in her home for 58 years. She was a volunteer driver for a local Meals on Wheels Program and helped handle the accounts for the weekly offerings to her church, the First Presbyterian Church of Rockaway. She enjoyed trips with Elder Hostels to the UK, Canada and the US.

Ruth was an avid reader and loved sharing her favorite books with her friends to enjoy. Ruth was honored by Denville Mayor Tom Andes with a proclamation identifying Sept. 26, 2020 as Ruth Spencer day in Denville.

Ruth was pre-deceased by her husband John S. Spencer, her brother-in-law, Charles Spencer (Dorothy), her sister-in-law Nancy (Spencer) Hunter, her brother Dr. Robert. B. Holden (Marynoyes), her brother Russell Holden, and nieces, Mary N. Holden and Jane Holden. 

Ruth is survived by her sons John S. Spencer, Jr. (Gray) of Hendersonville, NC, Andrew H. Spencer of Reston, VA, her grandchildren Collin, Jordan, Nolan, and Laken of Reston, VA, her niece Karen Voight (Edward), her nephew Glenn Spencer (Cindy), niece Peggy Norman (Daniel), nephew Dave Hunter, nephews Robert Holden (Holly), Mark Holden (Melissa) and Peter Holden (Rochelle), and niece Leslie Ann Holden (Robert Noland), and grand nieces and nephews. 

A memorial service for Ruth will be held on September 13, 2025 at 11AM at the First Presbyterian Church of Rockaway, NJ. A reception will follow the service in the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Morristown Meals On Wheels - https://morristownmeals-on-wheels.org/donate/