Ruth E. Bollivar

Ruth's funeral service will be livestreamed on Sunday, February 6th at 2:00 pm via this link: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/6430378966

Holden - Ruth (Bell) Bollivar, 84, of Holden, died peacefully on January 22 at Dodge Park Rest Home in Worcester after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Ruth was born on January 10, 1938, to Catherine (Chase) Bell and Walter Bell in Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard. The family moved to New Bedford when Ruth was 5 years old, and she graduated from New Bedford High School in 1956. While in high school, Ruth was employed at Arlan’s department store and was a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls where she was elected Worthy Advisor in 1955. Ruth was also the organist and choir director at Clifford Chapel in New Bedford for several years. After graduating from Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School in 1957, she worked at the law office of Hicks and McCauley until 1964.

Ruth met the love of her life, Bruce, on a blind date in 1960. They were married on April 20, 1963, at the Winslow Congregational Church in Taunton. After living in Taunton for several years, they moved to Franklin to raise their family. Ruth was a devoted mother and an active member of the Medway Village Church, leading Bible studies and children’s programs, singing in the choir, ministering to the elderly, and serving wherever she was needed.

In 1985, the family moved to Shrewsbury to be closer to the McDonald’s restaurants Bruce and Ruth operated together for 23 years. Ruth continued serving God while a member of Bethlehem Bible Church in West Boylston. She loved teaching children and started a Sunday school class for 2- and 3-year-olds because she believed even the youngest children should have the opportunity to learn that Jesus loves them.

Ruth’s greatest joy was being with her family, especially her grandchildren. There are many happy memories of vacations in New Hampshire, Myrtle Beach, and Florida with her children and grandchildren. In their retirement, Ruth and Bruce moved to Holden and continued to travel, going on cruises and visiting Aruba every fall.

Ruth is survived by her husband of 58 years, Bruce Bollivar; her children, James Bollivar and his wife, Mary of Spencer, Janet Bowman and her husband, Christopher of Rutland, and Betsey Pendergast and her husband, Sean of Berlin; her sister Betsey-Jane Cliff of New Bedford; her grandchildren, James, Victoria, Ethan, Andrew and his wife, Carrie, Lyndsey, Katherine and her fiance, Joshua, Jenna, Ashlee, Joel and his wife, Taylor, and Emma; great grandchildren, Emery, Theo and Logan; and several nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her sister Catherine McMullen of Florida, her nephew Andrew Cliff, and her great grandson Noah Robert Bowman.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a calling hour from 1 to 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 6, 2022 at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. A funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Camp Fireside, 86 Pond Hill Rd., Barrington, NH 03825 (please write “scholarship fund” in the notes section).