Ruth R. Riley, 92 years old of Willshire, Ohio, passed away at 1:35 p.m. on Sunday, February 20, 2011 in the VanCrest Health Care Center located in Van Wert, Ohio. Ruth was born on Wednesday, September 18, 1918 in Van Wert County, Ohio the daughter of the late Herbert E. Thatcher and the late Goldie B. (Carmean) Thatcher. She married the late Norris R. "Shorty" Riley on November 11, 1939 in Wren, Ohio and he passed away on June 2, 1988. Ruth was a member of the Willshire - Union United Methodist Church. She was a graduate of Hoagland Jackson High School Class of 1936. Ruth was a homemaker and had also worked at Swiss Village for seven years. Surviving are her daughter, Janet Whitaker of Van Wert, Ohio; sister, Rosalie (Floyd) Kirkland of Berne, Indiana; brother, Noel (Barbara) Thatcher of Decatur, Indiana, four grandchildren: Eric Shaffer, Hope (Scott) Redding, Holly Shaffer, and Debra Cook; and six great-grandchildren: Mercedes Shaffer, Ryker Redding, Izyk Redding, Juice Redding, Mykl Redding, and Kahner Cook. Preceding Ruth in death were three brothers, Graydon, Byron "Gene", and Merlyn Thatcher; and two sisters, Marilyn "Dot" Callow, and Myrna "Mick" Riley. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 24, 2011 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home with Rev. Bud Larimore and Tom Brunstrup officiating. Interment will follow in the Tricker Cemetery, in rural Monroe, Indiana. Friends will be received from 2-5 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 23, 2011 in the Zwick and Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur, Indiana. Preferred memorials are to Willshire - Union United Methodist Church.
