Obituary of Ruth E. Greenleaf

Ruth Elizabeth (Given) Greenleaf, of Woburn, passed away quietly at the Winchester Hospital on Thursday, September 29th after a long and fruitful life of 97 years. Ruth was born on April 5, 1925 at the Given Brothers family farm on Wyman Street in Burlington to her parents Martha Given and John Given. She was raised in North Woburn at John Given Greenhouses along with her older siblings, Eleanor (Snelling), Robert, John, and Evelyn (Benson). Ruth attended the Rumford and Linscott Schools and graduated from Woburn High School in 1942. Following this, Ruth attended the Fisher Business College in Boston and worked for many years in that city as a legal secretary. In 1949 she married her high school sweetheart, Malcolm Greenleaf and started a family. As her family grew, Ruth returned to the workforce serving as executive administrative assistant to the CEOs of several corporations, including Granada Wines and, for many years, High Voltage Engineering Inc. Throughout her married life of 62 years and beyond, Ruth was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Woburn, serving as a member of the Board of Deacons, a Sunday School teacher, and a member of the Winona Women’s Club. Ruth was also active in the wider community, volunteering as a Cub Scout den mother, as a teacher of English as a Second Language to young Hispanic women, as a member of the board of the Tidd Home, and as a visitor at Warren House: Supportive Living. In recent years Ruth was a resident at The Gables in Winchester. Ruth was predeceased by her parents, siblings; and her husband Malcolm who passed away in 2011. She is survived by her son Richard Greenleaf and his wife Jenny of Kittery, ME; granddaughter Arielle Greenleaf and great-granddaughter Ashley Driscoll of Sterling, MA; son Bradford Greenleaf and his wife Liz of Windham, NH; and grandsons Ryan Greenleaf of Arlington, MA and Connor Greenleaf of Windham, NH, as well as a wide circle of caring family and friends. Ruth was a bright and loving spirit whose light will live on. A service of remembrance and interment will be held at 11:00 am Monday, October 3, 2022 at Woodbrook Cemetery, 100 Salem St., Woburn, MA. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the First Baptist Church of Woburn, 3 Winn St., Woburn, MA 01801. Arrangements by Arthur P. Graham Funeral Home, Woburn.