Ruth Douglas Almond

Ruth Douglas Almond, of Maple Glen, peacefully passed away the evening of February 10, 2025 at Abington Hospital. 

She was born on February 27, 1935 in Pasadena, California to the late George and Amy (née Hewett) Douglas. Following graduation from high school, she attended Scripps College in Claremont, California on a scholarship granted for her gifted artistic abilities and academic excellence, Shortly after graduation she married her life-long partner, Harold “Hal” Almond. Ruth loved children and taught in California elementary schools for a few years while Hal finished his degree.

After moving to Conshohocken they started their family and Ruth began teaching Sunday School at the Messiah United Methodist Church. Her love of plants, animals and nature were shared with children by volunteering at the Schuylkill Valley Nature Center (now the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education). In 1969 they moved to Maple Glen and joined Jarrettown United Methodist Church. Ruth began over fifty years of teaching Sunday School and Junior Church. 

She loved art and volunteered at Jarrettown elementary school to teach Saturday art classes. She also served as a Cub Scout Den Mother. At Robbins Park Environmental Education Center she trained and coordinated volunteers to lead field trips in the park. After getting her master’s degree in environmental education from Beaver College (now Arcadia University) she was hired by Upper Dublin School District to work at Robbins Park. During this time Ruth developed and illustrated K-12 environmental curriculum for the park. 

Ruth participated in an interfaith (Protestant, Catholic and Jewish) discussion group for over twenty years where traditions and beliefs were openly shared.

Ruth was also active in and a past president of the Outdoor Gardeners. She loved flowers, especially wildflowers, for which she had an encyclopedic like knowledge. 

Ruth and Hal travelled extensively throughout the world always enjoying the plants, animals , birds and art of the various countries they visited. 

After retiring she volunteered at Philabundance for many years. 

Ruth was awarded numerous times for many different aspects of her volunteer work. 

 She is survived by her loving husband, Harold “Hal” Almond; 2 sons, Russell Almond (married to Kjrsten Henriksen) and Robert Almond; two grandchildren, Shahrazad "Zadi" and Marguerite "Margot" Almond; and one brother, Bruce Douglas. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Joan Axelson. 

A memorial service honoring Ruth’s life will be held on Wednesday February 26 at 11:00 a.m. at Jarrettown United Methodist Church located at 1460 Limekiln Pike, Dresher, PA 19025. Family and friends may call beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the church. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruth’s name may be made to Jarrettown United Methodist Church, the American Red Cross or "Plant a Tree". 

Arrangements by Shaeff-Myers Funeral Home.