Ruth Houlihan Baummer

Naugatuck - Ruth Houlihan Baummer, 92, passed away on Friday, January 17, 2025, surrounded by family. She was the wife of the late Charles J. Baummer.

Ruth was born June 25, 1932, in Derby, the daughter of the late William and Martha (Cranwell) Houlihan of Oxford. She attended Riggs Street Elementary School in Oxford, a one-room schoolhouse, and graduated from Seymour High School. Ruth and her sisters and brother grew up on her family’s farm in Oxford until her parents passed away when Ruth was young. She loved her life on the farm and afterwards lived with her sisters and family friends until she was old enough to live on her own. Ruth loved sports and was a very good athlete. She played basketball and softball in high school and was recruited to play professional softball while still a teenager. She had a deep understanding of and passion for baseball and was a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan. As a young woman, she worked as a bookkeeper for many area businesses. Later in life, Mrs. B spent years caring for the children of friends and neighbors and built deep relationships with them which she cherished. She was a stubborn optimist, caring listener, devoted friend, trusted neighbor, and loving mother and grandmother. Everyone loved Mrs. B.

In addition to her husband of fifty years, Charles, Ruth was predeceased by her sisters Beryl Rio, Janet Beardsley, Martha Fratesi, and Shirley Thorson, her brother Robert Houlihan and half-sister Flossie Houlihan. She was looking forward to becoming a great-grandmother in July and will be remembered by a host of nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her children Brian Baummer and his wife Nicole, of Alpharetta, GA and Cheryl Campbell and her husband Anthony Campbell of Naugatuck, CT; as well as her grandchildren Michael A. Campbell and his wife Caitlyn of Mooresville NC, Morgan Campbell and her husband Peter Cunniff of Bethany, CT, Kathryn Campbell of East Hartford, CT and Connor Campbell of Naugatuck CT. Ruth was blessed with neighbors on Casper Court, whom she faithfully kept an eye on from her picture window and who, in turn, faithfully kept an eye on her. 

Arrangements - Visitation for Mrs. Baummer will be held on Friday, January 24, 2025, from 5 to 7 pm at the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow St. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 10 am at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Southford Cemetery, Oxford. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 280285, East Hartford, CT 06128-0285.