Ruth Taft Dorsey

Ruth (Taft) Dorsey, 90, of West Hartford, wife of the late Thomas J. Dorsey, died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday evening (December 12, 2012) in her own home and in the presence of family. Born and raised in Hartford to Dr. James Taft, DDS, and Eva Marie (Lapointe) Taft, Ruth graduated 13th in her class from Bulkeley High School in 1939, then worked at Aetna as a transcriptionist until 1954. After raising three sons, she worked at Allstate Insurance’s New England Regional Office in Farmington until her retirement in 1982. After retirement Ruth served on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Auxiliary of Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center where for many years she was an active and faithful volunteer trained in many areas of the hospital. She loved every minute of this work. Ruth was a communicant at the Church of St. Helena. Ruth was a member of the Sarah Whitman Hooker Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a charter member and active volunteer of the West Hartford Belles, serving as Treasurer and on many committees through the years. She enjoyed lawn bowling with her husband and friends at the Fernleigh Lawn Bowling Club. Ruth is survived by her sons Robert of Durham, NC; Paul of West Hartford; and James and his wife Pat Sullivan of Smithfield, RI, and their children Aaron Sullivan Thomas and Shelby Sullivan Thomas. Also survived by a nephew Robert King of Wilbraham, MA; and a niece Ann Marie Dooley and her husband James of Enfield and their daughters Lori and Kate. Also survived by a grand nephew Dennis King and his wife Laura of Middlefield; and grand nieces Martha Waters of Kennebunk, ME; and Maureen Platt and her husband Jeffrey of Sanford, ME. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Wednesday morning, December 19, beginning at 10 a.m. in the assembly hall of the Church of St. Helena, 30 Echo Lane, West Hartford. A mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow in the church at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Flowers may be sent to the Molloy Funeral Home 906 Farmington Ave. West Hartford or donations may be made to the Betty Larus Adult Day Center, Avery Heights, 705A New Britain Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106.