Ruth Barbara Kathryn Brown, 95, a former longtime resident of Hoagland, Indiana, died at 6:10 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at Woodview Health Care Center in Ft. Wayne, Indiana where she had been a resident since 2004. For the last 40 years of her life, she was afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis. Ruth was born on March 22, 1911 in Hoagland, Indiana, the daughter of George E. and Maggie (Stout) Corville. Her grandfather, George Washington Stout, was a veteran of the Civil War and was elected Sheriff of Allen County in 1900. At age 11, Ruth lost her mother and became the cook and housekeeper for her father and four brothers: Frank, George, Lewis, and Cloyd. As a child, Ruth also had a pony and a dog named Snip. As a result of her early childhood experiences, Ruth excelled at cooking and baking and also was an accomplished seamstress. On August 19, 1931, Ruth was united in marriage to Lloyd Carlton Brown in Butler, Kentucky. They celebrated 73 years of marriage before Lloyd passed away on April 23, 2005. Ruth was a lifetime member of the Antioch Lutheran Church in Hoagland, Indiana, where she had been the church organist and choir director for 50 years. Ruth was a member of the Eastern Star in Poe, Indiana. Ruth was a graduate of Hoagland High School, Class of 1928, after having attended Decatur High School for 2 years, during which time Hoagland did not have a High School. Ruth was a homemaker for her family and also worked in the cafeteria at Hoagland High School for 15 years, retiring in 1966. Ruth is survived by 5 sons: Brice C. (Shirley A.) Brown of Mechanicsburg, Virginia; Kermit E. (Dawn) Brown of Kenner, Louisiana; Lynn T. (Carol) Brown of Bloomington, Indiana; (Twin Son) Gene W. (Margaret) Brown of Franklin, Tennessee; and (Twin Son) Dean A. (Helen) Brown of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; 12 Grandchildren: Kevin (Roberta) Brown, Alan (Tonya) Brown, Kathi Brown, Michael Brown, Stephen Brown, Suzanne Cessac, Janis (Mike Conley) Brown, Nancy (Bobby Pirtle) Brown, Nicole (Arnold) Agbunag, Elizabeth (Paul) Ramsey, Molly Brown, and Emily (Mike) Cavacini; and 11 Great-Grandchildren: Raleigh Brown, Savannah Kate Brown, Ashley Cessac, Kyle Cessac, Hannah Agbunag, Andrew Agbunag, Maria Agbunag, Rita Marie Ramsey, Pete Ramsey, Ruth Ann Ramsey, and Sarah Bette Ramsey. Funeral services for Ruth will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 9, 2006, in the Antioch Lutheran Church, Hoagland, Indiana with Rev. Joe McInnis officiating. Burial will follow at the Antioch Lutheran Church Cemetery, Hoagland, Indiana. Friends and family will be received from 3:00 " 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 8, 2006 in the Zwick and Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur, Indiana and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Preferred memorials for Ruth are to the Antioch Lutheran Church or Parkview Hospice.
