Obituary of Ruth H. Flagg

August 9, 1932 - Sept. 12, 2008 Putnam - Ruth H. Flagg was born in Putnam to Conrad and Florence Erickson and was a graduate of Putnam High School Class of 1950. She worked at the Wyckoff Steel Company and married Richard L. Flagg, also of Putnam, in 1952. Ruth always had a fondness for children and a desire to teach. As a member of the Putnam Baptist Church, Ruth began a youth program called "The Lamplighters" to include children of all denominations, of which she was very proud. She also became the first teacher's aide in the Putnam Public School system. In recent years she helped to create an historical coloring book which is still being used in the Putnam Elementary School curriculum. She was also an avid writer and local historian who wrote many articles for local newspapers and booklets for the Aspinock Historical Society which she served two terms as president. She was instrumental in the opening of the Cady Copp Cottage and the creation of the Gertrude Chandler Warner Boxcar Museum. In 1993, Ruth was given the Annual Heritage Award by the Aspinock Historical Society of Putnam. She was a past president of the Women's Board at Day Kimball Hospital, and many years later wrote a book about its 100-year history at the Board's request. She also served on the board for the Putnam chapter of the American Red Cross. She received the Citizen of the Year award from the Putnam Grange, and the Regional Heritage Award from the Northeastern Historical Society in 1996. She was particularly proud of her historical novel Echoes (1989), based on many years of genealogical research. Ruth's large family was always her first priority in life. She leaves seven children; Curtis Flagg; Clinton Flagg of Dennis, MA; Dori LaPointe of East Hartford, Adell Butterfield and Amy Hilton, both of Danielson, Dawn Wilkinson of Wolfboro, NH; Nicole Nichols of Putnam, fifteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; a brother Richard Erickson of Arlington, MA.. A Graveside Service will be held Sunday September 14th at 2:00 PM in Grove Street Cemetery, Grove Street, Putnam. In lieu of flowers donations may be made, in her memory to the Putnam Public Library, 225 Kennedy Drive, Putnam, CT 06260. To share a memory with her family "Light a Candle" at www.smithandwalkerfh.com