Doodson, Ruth Manchester, age 101, was born to eternal life January 9, 2015.  Ruth was born August 1, 1913 in Swansea, Massachusetts, the daughter of Louis and Lois (Archibald) Manchester.  She was preceded in death by her husband John.  Loving mother of Elaine (Chuck) Applegate;  Proud grandmother of Lea (Scott) Sinclair and Lisa (Casey) Young.  Further survived by 7 beloved great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.  She can trace her lineage back to the Mayflower.  Pricilla Mullins who married John Alden is her cousin ten times removed.  Ruth attended the old and new Gardner Schools through 8th grade, and often played the piano for opening exercises in fifth and sixth grades.  She later attended Morton Junior High and Durfee High School before Joseph Case High School opened.  She was in the first graduating class from Case in 1930.  She graduated from Sargent College at Boston University in 1934, having worked as a nanny to five children to pay for her education.  In 1935, she took her first full time job as the Activities Director of the YWCA in Williamsburg, PA and remained there until 1939 when she accepted a similar position in Cambridge, MA.  There she was employed until 1941 when she married John W. Doodson.  The couple married in the South Swansea Union Church and settled in an apartment above the Archibald home on Gardner's Neck Road.  During WWII, Ruth volunteered in the Red Cross Motor Corps as a driver.  Her responsibilities included transporting patients to the hospital and medical appointments.  After WWII, Ruth became the first Recreation Director of Swansea and served until 1953.  In 1949, she became the Chairman of Water Safety at the Fall River Red Cross.  Ruth was an active member of the South Swansea Union Church, now the South Swansea Baptist Church.  In the 1950's she served as a Deaconess and President of the Ladies Aid Society, and she sang in the choir.  In the 1990's she was the organist and choir director.  After 1953, she and her family moved to Touisset where she became involved with the Coles River Club.  She served as the club's president in 1955 and was a board member through 1958.  Also in 1953, she became an English teacher in Swansea Public Schools.  Later she was a math and physical education teacher in Rehoboth until 1959 when she became a full time physical education teacher in Fall River.  She retired in 1974 but became a full time volunteer in many organizations including the Swansea Historical Society, the DAR, the Joseph Case High School Reunion Committee, and the Land Trust Committee.  In her spare time, she was an active and competitive ballroom dancer and tennis player. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on July 11, 2015 at South Swansea Baptist Church, located at 25 Church St. Swansea, MA 02777.