Obituary of Ruth Evelyn (Stickney) Arnfield

Ruth Evelyn (Stickney) Arnfield of Poughkeepsie, died peacefully on Sunday, January 7, 2018, at the Lutheran Care Center, Poughkeepsie, New York.

Ruth was born on February 14, 1930, in Derry, New Hampshire. She was the daughter of the late Walter E. Stickney and the late Ruth A. Stickney. She was the wife of the late Alan E. Arnfield Sr., the love of her life for 64 years.

Ruth was educated in the Salem, New Hampshire schools and she was employed as a bookkeeper at the Beach Soap Company in Salem. She and Alan were married on June 18,1950.

After living her early years in the New Hampshire area, then married, Ruth and Alan moved to Methuen, Massachusetts. In 1955, they relocated to Dutchess County, New York purchasing their first home in Millbrook. In 1962, they built their own home in the Town of Poughkeepsie where they resided for more than 50 years.

Ruth was a member of the Wappingers Falls United Methodist Church, teaching Sunday School, before both she and Alan became members of the Poughkeepsie Methodist Church (formerly known as the Community Methodist Church). Ruth was a dedicated, elder member of the Poughkeepsie Methodist Church for most of her life. She sang exuberantly in the Church Choir for 40 plus years.

As her family began to grow and leave home, Ruth was employed by the Poughkeepsie Medical Group as both a bookkeeper as well as office manager.

Ruth’s passion was highlighted by her love of family, friends, music, choir, piano, gardening, and animals. Her piano and music were her heart and soul. Ruth was never formally trained, but she could replicate any piece of music on the piano once she heard it. She used her gift of music in many church and community activities throughout her life. Everyone that knew Ruth saw her as a loving and caring person who would go out of her way to help someone. All will miss her.

Ruth is survived by a brother, Wallace Stickney; a son, Alan E. Arnfield Jr. and his wife Jenny, a son, David P. Arnfield and his partner Julia M. Checchia, a daughter, Evelyn A. Franks and her husband Brian; grandchildren Jonathan Arnfield, Stephanie Arnfield Freeman and her husband Rod, Christian Arnfield, Andrew Franks and Ethan Franks; and 5 great grandchildren Justin, Ella, Julia, Olivia and Corey, as well as many nieces and nephews.

It is with the deepest gratitude, the family conveys their heartfelt thankfulness to the Staff at Lutheran Care Center, Poughkeepsie. Their compassion, diligent care, and pure love for Ruth for past 4 years, was outstanding. Their kindness was clearly communicated and demonstrated to Ruth as well as her family as she entered the last days and hours of her life.

The family would also like to acknowledge and thank Hudson Valley Hospice for their care, music program and support over the last several months of Ruth’s life.  

Visitation will be Thursday, January 18, 2018 from 5pm to 8pm at the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, 317 Hooker Avenue, Poughkeepsie, New York 12603 and Saturday, January 20 from 10am to 12 noon at the Carrier Family Funeral Home & Crematory, 38 Range Rd, Windham, NH. The funeral service will immediately follow and burial will take place in Elmwood Cemetery, Methuen, Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dutchess County SPCA, 636 Violet Avenue, Hyde Park, NY 12538 or dcspca.org

If you would like to leave an online condolence please visit www.doylefuneralhome.com