Ruth M. Craddock, antiques dealer

Ruth M. Craddock, a former Ridgefielder who had been an antiques dealer, died Friday, Oct. 11. She was 81 years old and the wife of Thomas J. Craddock.
A native of Long Island, Mrs. Craddock was born March 27, 1921, a daughter of Ed Westermann Sr. and Margaret Babcock Westermann of Valley Stream, N.Y. She lived for many years in Huntington, Long Island, before moving in 1971 to West Lane in Ridgefield where she raised her family.
She was an avid collector of early American glass and primitive furniture and was well known to most antiques dealers in the area. After she moved to Rumney, N.H., in 1988, she became the owner of the Butternut Antiques Shop there.
Mrs. Craddock was also the treasurer of the Byron G. Merill Public Library in Rumney.
She greatly enjoyed spending time with family, especially her grandchildren, said her daughter, Brid Pessin of Newtown.
Besides her husband and daughter Brid and Brid’s husband Harvey, Mrs. Craddock is survived two other daughters: Leah Jaquith of Athens, Ohio, and Nancy Sposato and her husband David of Bridgewater; two brothers: Ed Westermann Jr. and Robert Westermann, both of Tucson, Ariz.; a sister: Evelyn Burke of Valley Stream, N.Y.; and two grandchildren: Kevin T. Jaquith and Katie A. Pessin.
A memorial service took place Monday, Oct. 14, at Mayo and Daigle Funeral Home, 40 Federal Street, Wiscasset, Maine.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Byron G. Merrill Library, Buffalo Road, Rumney, NH 03266.