Ascutney, VT – Ruth H. Pillsbury, 87, died on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Cedar Hill Continuing Care Community in Windsor, VT. Ruth was born and grew up in Portland, ME, the youngest of four children to Hathorne and Margaret (Montgomery) Hussey on July 24, 1936. While attending high school, she met Leon W. Pillsbury, Jr.; the two high school sweethearts dated all through her last three years of high school and married on August 14, 1954. Soon after, they moved to Akron, Ohio for Leon's career with Goodyear and they started a family. Her focus was caring for their four young children and keeping the home operating smoothly. The young family enjoyed fishing together and cheering their sons on at their motorcycle races on the weekends. They moved to Windsor in 1972 to be closer to their extended family and Leon continued his career with Goodyear. After a time, Ruth became very active with the Windsor Lion's Club, continuing until her recent health decline. They enjoyed camping in the summers at Ossipee Lake in Freedom, NH, fishing for white perch and after Leon's retirement, and winters in Florida. Although Florida wasn't Ruth's favorite place to be, she dearly loved their afternoon tradition of fishing together. She enjoyed their time on the water and often took in the scenes around them, perhaps to be the subject of a future work of art.

Ruth's artistic skill expanded across multiple mediums: stained glass, oil paints, and fiber arts. She began painting in high school and never stopped expressing her view of the world through her art. Her family and friends will cherish the intricate knit sweaters, delicately composed stained glass lamps, and vibrant oil paintings that she gifted to them through the years.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 70 years, Leon W. Pillsbury, Jr. of Ascutney; four children, Leon Pillsbury, III and wife Carol of Kent, OH, Glen Pillsbury and wife Dorinda of Peru, ME, Gail Pringle of Hanover, NH, and Cheryl Waite and husband Steve of Hartland, VT; eleven grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren, other relatives, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings, Dorothy, Kendall, and Martha.

Services will be private and memorial donations are appreciated to the Windsor Lion's Club, 467 Sunset Dr., Windsor, VT 05089 or Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society, PO Box 702, Brownsville, VT 05037.

Knight Funeral Home of Windsor, VT has been entrusted with arrangements and online condolences may be made at www.knightfuneralhomes.com