Charlestown, NH – Ruth M. Bushway, 92, passed away on January 5th, 2026 at the Springfield Hospital in Springfield, VT, after a long and vibrant life filled with family, friends, and music. She was born on July 30th, 1933 in Charlestown, New Hampshire to Gordon H. Bashaw, Sr. and Ida L. (Kinney) Bashaw.
Ruth grew up in Charlestown, NH and graduated from Charlestown High School in 1951. She married Robert E. (Bob) Bushway that same year and they were happily married for 65 years until Bob’s passing in 2016.
In addition to raising her two children, Ruth spent most of her adult life doing office work at a variety of local businesses including Holstein Fresien in Brattleboro, VT, Bragg Lumber in Bellows Falls, VT, Moore & Thompson Paper in Bellows Falls, VT, and finally at the Charlestown Senior Center in Charlestown, NH. As an entrepreneur, Ruth sold Beeline Fashions, Beauty Counselor Cosmetics, and Merlite Jewelry. She also owned and operated a hotdog stand and spent 17 years as the owner of The Exotic Adventure Tanning Salon in Keene, NH.
Ruth enjoyed singing and playing drums and guitar in many area clubs. She played drums with the Dave Schroeder band and the “Halsonaires”. She later played guitar with “The Echoes” and “The Tempos” before forming a band called “Country Sunshine” with her husband and several other musicians. While working at the Charlestown Senior Center, she formed a group with musicians and singers from the center called “Silver Country”. The group performed for residents at nursing homes and in senior housing in the area.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents Gordon and Ida Bashaw, her husband Robert Bushway, her son Bruce Bushway, and her sister Leona Bennett.
Ruth is survived by her daughter Heidi Bushway and husband Greg Lorsbach of West Chesterfield, NH; her daughter-in-law Sherrie Withington and husband Eugene of Charlestown, NH; her brother Gordon H. Bashaw, Jr. of Charlestown, NH; her grandchildren Kaya Starbuck and husband Silas, Martin Bushway and wife Caitlan Osborn, Jennifer Bushway, and Justin Lorsbach and wife Beth; her great-grandchildren Ivy Rae Warren, Brandon Bushway, Amir and Sabirah Muhammad and Hannah and Miranda Lorsbach; her sister-in-law Irene Brown; her brothers-in-law Gordon Bushway, and Everett Bushway and wife Amy; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services will be held at the Charlestown Memorial Chapel, 34 Main Street in Charlestown, NH, on Monday afternoon January 12th at 2PM. Visiting hours will be held from 1PM to 2PM prior to the service. Burial will be in the spring at the Pine Crest Cemetery in Charlestown.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Charlestown Senior Center, 223 Old Springfield Road, Charlestown, NH 03603 or to the Charlestown Congregational Church, PO Box 1498, Charlestown, NH 03603-1498.
Click here to sign the guest book or honor their memory with flowers, donations, or other heartfelt tributes