Ruth Bower Davis, 89, formerly of Harrington, Del., passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 17 at State Street Living in Dover.
Davis graduated from the University of Delaware in 1944 with a BS in Chemistry and went directly to work for the DuPont Co. on a project for the war effort.
She drove horses as a hobby and raced at Freehold in 1947 as one of very few women with a USTA driver license. Upon her marriage to Olin she became a groom and assistant trainer along with the duties of housewife and mother.
In 1959 she took their undefeated three-year-old pacing filly Quick Lady to Lexington where the filly had Grand Circuit engagements. She won both heats and remained 12 for 12, often defeating older horses and winning the District 11 Mare Pacer of the Year award.
During the 1960s she obtained a Clerk of Course and a Program Director license and worked in those positions at Harrington, Georgetown, Brandywine, Rosecroft and Laurel on and off over the next 40 years. She was a director of the Delaware Standardbred Development Fund until it ended. Her favourite job was that of a runner at the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg for many years.
She also was a substitute teacher in the Harrington (later Lake Forest) school district well into her 70s. She also had perfect attendance volunteering at Milford Hospital for many years.
A devout sports fan, she watched the Eagles and Phillies even when her hearing expired. She will always be remembered for her love of animals and the Jack Russell terriers, Peanut and Holly. When she went to State Street to reside she took her cat, Turtle.
She is survived by a daughter, Judy Davis-Wilson; son, Mike (Diane); grandchildren, Diane Wilson (Jesse Richardson) and Mickey (Bethany); great-grandaughter, Caitlyn; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Zoe Bower; brother, Murray; and the love of her life, Olin, who passed in 1992.
Burial will be a private graveside ceremony. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, 240 Main St., Goshen, NY 10924.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Ruth Bower Davis.
(USHWA)