Ruth N. (Belmont) Lane

October 24, 1932 - May 17, 2020

Ruth Nancy Lane, 87, passed away on May 17, 2020 in Sarasota, Florida after a brief illness. Ruth was born on October 24, 1932 in Lewiston, Maine and graduated from Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine in 1950. She married the love of her life and best friend, Theodore R. Lane on May 2, 1953. They celebrated 66 years of marriage in 2019, shortly before Ted passed. Ruth was the daughter of the late Olive Belmont. She was pre-deceased by her sister, Shirley Belmont Gousse. Ruth and Ted spent 21 years in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard while Ruth supported every move up and down the east coast - Cape May, NJ, Hollywood, FL and Oakdale, CT – while raising and taking care of their two children, Gary and Sandra (Sandi). When Ted retired from the service they returned to Maine where Ruth took a position with Kmart Corp. as the office manager of the Auburn store over a 12year career. Ruth was skilled in opening new stores and was selected by Kmart home headquarters in Troy, MI to open a number of stores in Maine. Ruth was responsible for hiring and training office personnel to manage the new stores. Upon her retirement in 1985, Ruth and Ted moved to Sarasota, FL. For many summers they returned to Maine, vacationing on Bailey Island, a place where Ruth had many happy childhood memories. She and Ted loved to entertain friends and family, cooking her favorite dinner - pots full of lobster. In fact, just before she became ill, she had ordered lobster that will be taken out of her freezer and enjoyed with family one more time. Ruth will be remembered for her sharp wit and gift of gab who was a wonderful and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. In her spare time, Ruth knitted and crocheted many baby blankets and hats for local hospitals, family, and friends while also selling some of her items at a gift shop located on Bailey Island. Ruth was a fantastic cook and baker. When living in Maine she grew and maintained her favorite flower, roses. Ruth also volunteered for many events in her retirement community including overseeing the weekly Bingo events. She is survived by a son, Gary S. Lane and Ann Andrews of Sarasota, Florida, a daughter Sandra Lane Peterson and her husband Stephen E. Peterson of Richmond, VA and the two big joys of her life, her grandchildren, Bradford Lane Peterson and Leah Kathryn Peterson Munn and her husband Jonathan, all of whom are from Richmond, VA. Ruth also leaves behind three very special nieces, Patricia Sloat and husband Bryan, Cindi LaHaye and partner Mike Yates, Michelle Manter and husband Kevin, all of Freeport, Maine and her nephew Richard Lane Bixby and wife Susan, of Sanbornville, NH. A memorial service will be held at the Sarasota National Cemetery at an as yet undetermined date. Toale Brothers Funeral Homes and Crematory, Gulf Gate Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.