Ruth (Bowen) Pardee

Ancestors

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Janet Payne [send private message]

Biography

Ruth was born in 1886. Ruth Bowen ... ^[1]

From her obituary, Williamsport Sun - Monday October 29, 1956; Civil Service Defense Headquarters supervisor and secretary and a veteran of World War I Army nursing service, died suddenly on Sunday Oct. 28, 1956.

The Bowen family moved to Williamsport in 1911.

In 1906 - Ruth traveled to Philadelphia to live with her Aunt Jane (Jane Mcmicken Hepburn married E. Freas Hess in 12/23/1886).

1906-1910- Ruth trained at Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing , Philadelphia. She graduated in 1910. She wrote a poem for her graduating class of 1910. The poem has been scanned and sent to the historical section of the Jefferson Hospital, along with a picture of Ruth as a nurse, possibly a graduating nurse photograph.

'She became a Red Cross nurse and when the Army took over this organization during World War I, Mrs. Pardee was sent to an Army hospital base in northern France. She served there for 19 months.'

In 1918 - Ruth has a document dated Sept 1 1918 for embarkment from Hoboken N.J. to accompany the Base Hospital No. 58 as a reserve nurse , A.N.C. She was 32 yrs old, blue eyes and dark brown hair, 5'3 1/2" tall and weighed 138 lbs. Remarks included "mole on chin" Source: is a very old State form 633-20

In 1919 - Ruth had a travel order dated April 19th 1919 that gave her permission to return to the United States aboard the S. S. Agamemnon departing April 20th 1919. Document heading indicates 'Headquarters, Post of Brest (Casual Office) Base Section No. 5, A.P.O. #716. Document signed "BY COMMAND OF BRIGADIER GENERAL STARBIRD: H. F. RATHJEN Major F.A., Adjutant"

'After the war, Mrs. Pardee returned to this country and became an office nurse for a Philadelphia surgeon. She later took up social service studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She formed social service organizations at the old Polyclinic Hospital and the Woman's Hospital, both in Philadelphia.' 'While at the Woman's Hospital, Mrs. Pardee was responsible for starting the first organized pre-natal clinic in the United States.'

In 1920 – Ruth I Bowen was located in Collinswood, Camden, New Jersey as a nurse to an elderly widow and her three daughters. (See 1920 New Jersey census) ‘She was 34 years old and a boarder with the Mcpherson family. Eliz R Mcpherson (age 65, from England), Leila E Mcpherson (age 32, from Pennsylvania), Mary R Mcpherson (age 30, from New Jersey), and Laulie Mcpherson (age 30, from New Jersey).

(1921-1925) - Ruth was offered a job as a nurse at a private boys camp in Madison Connecticut. Shortly after she arrived, the camp was out of business and Ruth was out of a job. Guilford, Connecticut, a small town near Madison, was looking for a village nurse, Ruth applied for and accepted the job. Her first patients was Claude G. Pardee, who was recovering from a stomach operation, and required a visiting nurse. (This was the story told to me by my father James Hobart Pardee.)

In 1925 - Ruth Irene Bowen married Claude Griswald Pardee In 1927 - James Hobart Pardee was born. In 1930 – Ruth Bowen Pardee was located in Madison Connecticut, married to Claude G Pardee, and son James Hobart Pardee (age 3). (See 1930 Connecticut census) 'After her marriage to Claude Pardee, both she and her husband moved to Madison, Conn., where they operated a restaurant, Pardee Restaurant, for a number of years.'

In 1940 - Ruth moved back to Williamsport with her son, James after the death of her husband Claude. 'Mrs Pardee joined the Williamsport Civil Defense organization in 1952 and was one of its busiest members. She and her son, maintained the defense office in their home 24 hours a day and were responsible for keeping up to date a file on every member of the organization. Mrs. Pardee was credited with setting up and maintaining a telephone network long before state defense officials required it.'

In 1956 - 'Mrs. Pardee in January was honored as "Woman of the Year" by the Grit Publishing Co. for her Civil Defense activities.

The Rev. Dr. William B. Williamson, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church officiated private services and burial at Wildwood Cemetery, with military services conducted by Howard W. Kahler, Post No. 844, Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Sources

• Janet Payne, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Janet and others.

• 1920 note - Source: District: 99 , Sheet Number and Letter: 9A , Household ID: 534 , Line Number: 5 , Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) , Affiliate Publication Number: T625 , GS Film number: 1821024 , Digital Folder Number: 004313317 , Image Number: 00611

• Obituary Source: Williamsport Sun, Oct 29 1956, a picture of Ruth was present with the obituary.

1. ↑ Entered by Janet Payne, Nov 24, 2011