Ruth Sheppard

WINCHESTER CENTER — Ruth Sheppard, 78, wife of Herbert Sheppard for 57 years, died Oct. 9, 2009, after a long battle with cancer. She was a longtime resident of Winchester and past resident of Harwinton.

Mrs. Sheppard and her husband spent many years traveling throughout the continental United States and Alaska in their motor home. They traveled thousands of miles in search of rare and unusual perennial flowering plants, making 22 trips along the northeastern coast of the United States.

She was an avid gardener and belonged to the American Rhododendron Society of Connecticut and Massachusetts chapters of the North American Rock Garden Society, Alpine Garden Club and Scottish Rock Garden Society, along with the Harwinton Woman’s Club and Harwinton Garden Club.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her brother, Eldred of Florida; her children, Debby Leonard and her husband, Jay, Brian Sheppard and his wife, Charlene, and Allison Mongeau and her husband, Kevin; grandchildren Kristine Rovero and her husband, Tim, Mike Leonard, Neil Mongeau and his wife, Jessica, and Amy Mongeau; great-grandchildren Kirsten and Tyler Rovero; and several nieces and nephews.

Services were held Oct. 13 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Hartford. Montano-Shea Funeral Home, Winsted, has care of the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. Visit an online guestbook at montano-shea.com.