Ruth Beacom

November 12, 1926 – August 4, 2025

Ruth Adele Hovey was born in St. Louis, MO on Nov. 12, 1926. She grew up in Mount Vernon, NY and graduated from A.B. Davis High School 1944. She attended two years at Green Mountain College in Poultney, VT and then completed an RN at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York in 1949.

Ruth married Robert K. (Bob) Beacom in 1949, and they were happily married for 57 years until his death in 2007.

Ruth and Bob had two children, Michael and Laurie, and Ruth was an active homemaker during their school years. As Bob’s job changed, the family moved from Glen Cove, NY to Wilbraham, Massachusetts, to Wiesbaden, Germany and then to Fairfax, Virginia. Following Bob’s death, Ruth moved to Magnolia Glen in Raleigh in 2009 to be close to her daughter and family. She was very happy in the community and loved her apartment in independent living.

Ruth believed strongly in the value of service, and she was a volunteer with several agencies through many years. She began as a Red Cross Bloodmobile volunteer in 1961 in Massachusetts. In Germany, she volunteered at an OB-GYN clinic and a school clinic.

After moving to Fairfax, she was very involved with the Red Cross, League of Women Voters and the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging. She served as Chairperson of the City of Fairfax TRIAD Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT). On May 14, 2002, the mayor of the City of Fairfax proclaimed that day as Ruth Beacom Day to honor her volunteerism, advocacy and efforts in maintaining an independent, productive community for older Americans.

Upon her move to Magnolia Glen in Raleigh, Ruth developed many strong friendships and participated in various classes and activities. For a while, she was known as “The Litter Lady” because of the time she spent picking up debris on the side of Creedmoor Rd. She would take a trash bag and long-handled grabber on her daily walks. One day, she decided not to pick up litter because she did not have a trash bag. She said the first thing she found on her walk was a bag! For this regular cleanup activity, Ruth received a Certificate of Appreciation “in recognition of dedication and outstanding service to the Great State of North Carolina” from Gov. Pat McCrory on Sept. 25, 2014.

Ruth is survived by her son, Michael Beacom of Portland, ME and daughter, Laurie Cochran of Raleigh, NC. She is also survived by her son-in-law, Connie Cochran, two grandsons, Kevin (Lori) Cochran and Eric (Ginna) Cochran and four great-grandchildren, Aiden, Rose, Eleanor and Lily Cochran. The family will have a private ceremony of remembrance this fall. She will be greatly missed.