Obituary of Ruth Burke Fraser

Ruth Burke Fraser, 94, of Hilton Head Island died at her home on September 25, 2017. She was born on April 7, 1923 in Plainfield, NJ, and was the daughter of Charles Clinton Burke, Jr. and Ruth Segur Burke. Her husband, Donald W. Fraser, predeceased her in 2001 in the 50th year of their marriage. Ruth lived in Plainfield, NJ, Madison, CT, Washington, DC, New York City and, for the majority of her married life, in Shaker Heights, OH. She moved with her husband to Sea Pines Plantation, Hilton Head Island in 1988. An avid golfer, Ruth was a member of the Sea Pines Country Club and a past volunteer at “The Heritage” golf tournament. While in Shaker Heights, she was an active member of the Junior League of Cleveland and later became a sustaining member of the Junior League of Hilton Head. A nature enthusiast, Ruth loved to garden and to paint. She was a member of several garden clubs in Cleveland and the Audubon Society. She was a supporter of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra and a volunteer reader in the Hilton Head public schools. She was a member of the Fairmount Presbyterian Church, Cleveland Heights, OH and later of the First Presbyterian Church of Hilton Head. She is survived by her daughters, Eliza Fraser Travalino of South Salem, NY and Donna Fraser Gourdeau of Hamilton, MA; her sons-in-law, Dean Travalino and Peter Gourdeau; and her four grandsons, James Travalino, Jack Gourdeau, Clint Gourdeau and Peter Gourdeau. One of six siblings, she is also survived by many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews, whom she also loved dearly. Memorial contributions may be made to the Seabrook Foundation Fund, 300 Woodhaven Drive, Hilton Head, SC 29928. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, October 4 at 2pm at The Seabrook, Hilton Head. To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Ruth Fraser, please visit our Flower & Gift Shop.