Ruth Dorothy Free

F, (18 June 1919 - 27 March 1999)
Father-Biological*William Free1 b. 1895, d. 1999
Mother-Biological*Ruth Johnson1 b. 1895, d. 1976
Last Edited=2 Jul 2026
Gravestone of Ruth Dorothy (Free) Gallagher
     Ruth Dorothy Free was born on 18 June 1919 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.2,3,4,5 She was the daughter of William Free and Ruth Johnson.1 Ruth, age 1 month, appeared on the US Census of 1920 living at 6140 Chancellor Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,in the household of her parents, William and Ruth Free.6 Ruth, age 10, appeared on the US Census of 1930 living at Sprout Road, Marple Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania,in the household of her parents, William and Ruth Free.7 Ruth, age 20, appeared on the US Census of 1940 living at 423 Larchwood Avenue, Upper Darby Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania,in the household of her parents, William and Ruth Free. She was a sales clerk.8 Her married name was Gallagher.

Ruth Dorothy Free married Joseph Aloysius Gallagher, son of Aloysius Francis Gallagher and Elizabeth Irene Hennessey.

Children:
1. Susan Gallagher (1943-____)
2. Patricia Anne Gallagher (1945-____)
3. Barbara Gallagher (1947-____)
4. Joseph Gallagher (1950-____)
5. Ruth Gallagher
6. John Gallagher.2,3


Ruth, age 30 years, and Joseph, age 32 years, appeared on the US Census of 1950 on 1131 Cornell Street, Upper Darby Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.2 Ruth, age 30 years, and Joseph Free, age 32 years, appeared on the US Census of 1950 at 1131 Cornell Street, Upper Darby Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.2 Ruth died on 27 March 1999 at home on Bedminster Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, at age 79.3,4,5 Ruth's obituary of 31 March 1999, reads:

RUTH D. GALLAGHER


Ruth Dorothy Gallagher, 79, of Bedminster, died Saturday, March 27, 1999 at her residence. She had been in failing health. She was the wife of Joseph Gallagher Sr.

Born in Philadelphia, she was a daughter of the late William and Ruth (Johnson) Free. She had lived in Bedminster for 28 years and was formerly from Drexel Hill. She graduated from Upper Darby High School.

Mrs. Gallagher was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Doylestown. She enjoyed cooking, playing bridge, sewing and needlepoint.

Besides her husband, she was survived by four daughters: Susan Closkey and her husband Tony of Butler; Patricia Ann Magnus of Clinton, Mass; Bonnie Cavanaugh and her husband John of Maple Glen and and Ruth Ann Gallagher of Aiken, S.C; two sons: Joseph Gallagher Jr. and his wife Kathy of Charlotte, N.C; and John "Kip" Gallagher and his wife Celeste of West Townsend, Mass; 13 grandchildren; three greatgrandchildren; a sister, Joan DuGan of Levittown; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Olga Ackerman and Lillian Cartledge; and a brother, William Jr.

A funeral mass was celebrated Wednesday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church with interment in St. John Neuman Cemetery, Chalfont.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent DePaul Society, c/o Lady of Mt. Carmel Rectory, 235 E. State Street, Doylestown, Pa. 18901.

The Simcox-McIlvaine Funeral Home, Lansdale, handled arrangements.

Published by The Perkasie News Herald, 31 March 1999.3


Ruth was buried on 31 March 1999 at Saint John Neumann Cemetery, Chalfont, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.3,5

Citations

  1. Ancestry.com. Ancestry Member Trees - Use with Caution. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations.
  2. Census Bureau. 1950 U.S. Federal Census. Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2022.
  3. Perkasie News Herald, "RUTH D. GALLAGHER" Perkasie, Pennsylvania, 31 March 1999.
  4. Social Security Administration. U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2015.
  5. Find-a-Grave. Online https://www.findagrave.com/
  6. Census Bureau. 1920 U.S. Federal Census. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2010.
  7. Census Bureau. 1930 U.S. Federal Census. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2002.
  8. Census Bureau. 1940 U.S. Federal Census. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2012.