Ruth Sprague

Ruth Sprague, 93, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 16th, 2025. She was born on June 26th, 1931, in Newport, R.I. She was the daughter of the late Charles F. and Donolda (Fisher) Milliken.

She was raised on Block Island and graduated from Block Island School. After her marriage to Norman Sprague, she moved to the mainland and assisted with the family business, Wakefield Cab for over 60 years. She was previously employed at Beaconway/Sofro Fabric Store, the South Kingstown School Department as a food server, and later worked for the Town of South Kingstown as a Crossing Guard for over 30 years, retiring at the age of 90.

In addition, Ruth was a volunteer at the onset of the South County Ambulance Corps and was one of the first two women to be welcomed into their ranks.

She was a life-time member of the Nestell Chapter # 6 Order of the Eastern Star, where she held many positions on both the local and State level.

Her hobbies included bird watching and knitting which resulted in her knitting and donating over 200 Afghans to her late granddaughter’s memorial road race.

She is survived by her daughter Kathleen (Sprague) Bessette and her husband William, her son Harold and Loreen Sprague, her daughter Doris (Sprague) Morse and her husband C.B. Morse, her daughter-in-law’s Laurie Sprague and Patricia Sprague and her niece Sue-Ann Milliken, her loving grandchildren Scott Bessette, Daniel and James Sprague, Connor Morse, Jordan Sprague, Paige Clark, Harry, Alex, Westley and Brea Sprague, Tahira Haughton, and Nicoshia Spence and her great grandchildren Taylor, Oliver and Eleanor Bessette, Luciana Sprague, and La’vel McTaggart.

She was predeceased by her former husband Norman Sprague, her sister Florence Milliken, her twin sister Eva Mott, her sons, Edward F. and Arthur N. Sprague and her granddaughter Kerri L. Bessette.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday March 24th, 2025, in the Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia Street Wakefield, RI from 4-7 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Kitchen of Hope/St. Francis Church, 114 High Street, Wakefield, RI 02879 in her memory.