Obituary for Ruth Eshelman "Ruthie" Zimmerman
ZIMMERMAN, Ruth (“Ruthie”) Eshelman Zimmerman, of Boxborough, Mass., formerly of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2021, at the age of 74, of cancer. Beloved wife of Simon C. W. Bunyard with whom she shared 24 years of marriage, and devoted stepmother to his children, Andrew W. Bunyard and Alexis L. Bunyard. Devoted sister to Anne M. Zimmerman, Mary Claire Zimmerman and predeceased Thomas M. Zimmerman.
Born December 2, 1946, to Thomas Malone Zimmerman and Clara May Zimmerman in Lancaster, PA. Ruth graduated from Westtown Friends Preparatory School in 1964. She received a bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University, a Master’s in Education and Administration as a Teacher of the Blind from Boston College, a Master’s in Education and Administration for Programs for the Deaf and Blind from California State University, and certification as a Teacher of the Blind by the Perkins School for the Blind.
From 1978-1979, she worked under the leadership of her future business partner, James Ryder, at the Massachusetts Association of the Blind. In 1979 she formed the Ryder Zimmerman Ryder Company with James and Rosaria Ryder to run residential homes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She retired from that in 2016. In 1987 she and the Ryders purchased a hardware, lumber, and grain business in Waldoboro, Maine, which the Ryder’s son, Michael, runs. She became a director of the nonprofit Boxborough Conservation Trust in 2001, and served as its treasurer from 2003 until 2020.
Ruth was devoted to her friends and family, and cherished her time with them. She will be sadly missed by everyone.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden Cancer Support Center in Harvard, MA, or to The Boxborough Conservation Trust, Inc.
Memorial Page: www.actonfuneralhome.com
Born December 2, 1946, to Thomas Malone Zimmerman and Clara May Zimmerman in Lancaster, PA. Ruth graduated from Westtown Friends Preparatory School in 1964. She received a bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University, a Master’s in Education and Administration as a Teacher of the Blind from Boston College, a Master’s in Education and Administration for Programs for the Deaf and Blind from California State University, and certification as a Teacher of the Blind by the Perkins School for the Blind.
From 1978-1979, she worked under the leadership of her future business partner, James Ryder, at the Massachusetts Association of the Blind. In 1979 she formed the Ryder Zimmerman Ryder Company with James and Rosaria Ryder to run residential homes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She retired from that in 2016. In 1987 she and the Ryders purchased a hardware, lumber, and grain business in Waldoboro, Maine, which the Ryder’s son, Michael, runs. She became a director of the nonprofit Boxborough Conservation Trust in 2001, and served as its treasurer from 2003 until 2020.
Ruth was devoted to her friends and family, and cherished her time with them. She will be sadly missed by everyone.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden Cancer Support Center in Harvard, MA, or to The Boxborough Conservation Trust, Inc.
Memorial Page: www.actonfuneralhome.com