Ruth Madeline Houghton's Obituary
Ruth M. Gorham Houghton of Federalsburg, Maryland died in her home on Saturday November, 2, 2024 of natural causes.
Ruth was born in Montrose, Pennsylvania on April 24, 1929 to the late George Julius Gorham and Cora Mae Monk Gorham. Subsequently, the family moved to Nanticoke, New York. She graduated from Whitney Point High School in 1946. Ruth was a National Honor Society member. After graduation she worked for the Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin as an office assistant. On September 28, 1946, Ruth married Calvin Junior Houghton. Ruth was a devoted mother to six children whom she showered with love and affection.
In 1974 Ruth and Calvin moved to Federalsburg, Maryland. She loved the outdoors, gardening and taking long walks. During the summer months she and Calvin spent their time at Paul Smiths, New York fishing the beautiful Saint Regis river chain and entertaining their many friends and relatives.
Besides her parents, Ruth is preceded in death by her husband: Calvin; her son, Danny, her great-granddaughters, Madeline Finch-Smith and Brittany Finch; and her brother, Ronnie Gorham.
She is survived by her sister, Pat Zanker of Glen Aubrey, NY and sister-in-law Liz Gorham of Nanticoke, NY. Ruth is also survived by three sons: Jim Houghton and his wife Kathy Houghton of Federalsburg, MD, Tom Houghton and Fawn Calloway of Federalsburg, MD, John Houghton and his wife Patty Dart of Williamsburg, VA; two daughters, Dawn Houghton of Shreve, OH, Susan Byrne and her husband Steve of Norris, TN; daughter-in-law, Joan Houghton of Denton, MD; 15 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; four great, great-grandchildren; and her former daughter-in-law, Billie Houghton of Norwich, NY.
The family plans to hold a service to honor Ruth in the Spring in Glen Aubrey, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Compass Regional Hospice, 160 Coursevall Drive, Centreville, MD 21617 or at www.compassregionalhospice.org
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