Ruth P. Taylor

Exeter – Ruth P. Taylor, 91, of Exeter and formerly of North Hampton, passed away peacefully on November 23, 2019 at Riverwoods. She was born on July 16, 1928 in Worcester, MA, a daughter of the late Silas and Helen (Williams) Partridge. She shared over 61 years of marriage with her beloved husband Donald Taylor who passed on July 17, 2011. Ruth was raised in Worcester and was a graduate of South High School. She was an accomplished professional musician and studied under Dr. Leopold Sachse in White Plains NY as a soprano soloist and opera performer. She also received classical training in the piano and organ and was commissioned to write and compose musicals for numerous children’s plays including “Let’s Go To The Circus” and the “Pied Piper Comes to Town”. Ruth later instructed students in music at the Shepard Knapp School in Boylston, MA. Ruth met and fell in love with her future husband when they were in a band together. They were married in June 1950 and moved to Eliot, Maine while Don pursued his Naval career, which included time at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The young couple later settled in Grafton, MA to raise their family. In 1969 they moved to Milwaukee, WI where Don was employed by Nordberg, which later was acquired by Rexnord, a company with facilities around the world. Ruth was of tremendous help to him during his corporate career, as he rose to president, eventually becoming CEO and chairman of the board. After retirement in 1997 they moved to North Hampton, returning to New England and the New Hampshire seacoast they adored. In business and during retirement, Ruth and Don traveled the globe together. They were also the life of many parties, as both were musically trained and were often asked to perform a duet. Ruth’s philanthropic work was focused upon the performing arts. She was on the board and a life director of the Florentine Opera Company in Milwaukee. She and Don permanently endowed a chair in the woodwinds section of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. They also maintained a home in Eastham, MA and were members of the Milwaukee Country Club, Abenaqui Country Club and Wentworth By the Sea. Ruth and Don were also members of a musical ensemble in North Hampton called the Little River Trio. Ruth will be remembered by her loving children, Donald W. Taylor and his wife, Anne, of Milwaukee, WI, Mark R. Taylor and his wife, Lynn, of Delray Beach, FL and John S. Taylor and his wife, Elisabeth, of Franklin, NH. She also leaves her nine adoring grandchildren, Jared Robertson, Drew, Wesley, Harrison, Tucker, Palmer, Ellery, Spencer and Abigail Taylor and two great grandchildren, Ella and Emil Robertson. In addition to her parents and her beloved husband, Ruth was predeceased by her daughter, Linda Ruth Taylor-Robertson in September 2018. Services will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at the North Hampton United Church of Christ, 295 Atlantic Ave., North Hampton. If desired, memorials may be made to Seacoast Family Promise of Exeter or the Morton N. Swartz MD Initiative of Massachusetts General Hospital Burial will be private in the Little River Cemetery.

Ruth P. Taylor

July 16, 1928 - November 23, 2019