Ruth Irene (Coats) Evans, 92, formerly of Crawfordsville, Indiana and Morris, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on December 31, 2020 at Westminster Village in West Lafayette, Indiana. She is survived by her husband Samuel Evans; daughters Rebecca (Eric) Gottschalk and Sarah (Dan) Connolly; grandchildren Meghan Gottschalk, Benjamin Connolly, Samuel Connolly, and Nathaniel Connolly; and siblings Mary Jane (Coats) Nichols and John Coats, as well as many extended family members. She was preceded in death by her siblings Lowell Coats and Lillis (Coats) Hunter.
Born May 6, 1928 in Riverside, Indiana, Ruth was the fourth child of Ezra and Nellie Coats. When Ruth was 2, her family moved to the town of Templeton in central Indiana. Her mother was the town postmistress and librarian, and her father ran a machine shop and gas station. Ruth and her siblings ran wild in that little town and always found ways to entertain themselves. Many of her favorite stories were about the colorful characters who resided in Templeton during her childhood. Ruth attended Otterbein High School and graduated in 1946.
Ruth’s parents were firm believers in the benefits of education, so they made sure that all 5 children had the opportunity to go to college. Ruth attended Ball State Teachers College in Muncie, Indiana and graduated in 1949. She began her career as a third-grade teacher in Logansport, Indiana, where she taught 18 students in a converted coal bin. The following year, she had a class of 42 students and, at the end of the year, declared that she “would rather dig ditches than teach!”
In the summer of 1952, she traveled via cargo ship to visit her sister Lillis and her husband Chet on a rubber plantation in Liberia, West Africa. She had some amazing adventures during her time there, like taking the wheel of the first plane she had ever flown on! She documented all of her African experiences with pictures, diary entries, and letters home to her family in Indiana.
In 1954, she was shown a newspaper clipping entitled, “AIR FORCE WANTS TEACHERS WITH URGE TO TRAVEL.” She signed up and spent a year teaching at Pepperell Air Force Base near St. John’s, Newfoundland. Her next assignment was teaching third grade at the US air base school in Bordeaux, France. She and her fellow teachers had many memorable experiences while exploring France, Italy, Germany, Spain, England and Switzerland during that exciting year!
After her time in France, she returned to the US and spent several years teaching third grade in West Lafayette, while continuing her master’s degree studies at Indiana University. One evening, after staying up all night the night before working on a paper, she was invited out to a party with friends. At the party, she was introduced to a chatty fellow from South Africa and a quiet fellow named Sam. Amazingly, Sam was the one who called her back! They were married on Dec 30, 1960 and lived in West Lafayette while Sam finished his PhD at Purdue University.
Ruth and Sam moved to Minnesota in 1963 when Sam took a position at the University of Minnesota’s West Central Experiment Station in Morris. Their first daughter Rebecca Jane was born on August 23, 1963, and Sarah Elizabeth was born 2 years later on September 21, 1965. Ruth worked as student teacher evaluator and part time librarian at the WC Experiment Station for 17 years. She was a wonderful mother, always heading up creative projects and lending a hand wherever she was needed. She was a pillar of the Morris community and an active volunteer at the Morris Public Library, as well as a Girl Scout leader, election judge, church leader, and county fair judge. She also participated in the UMM Women’s Association, Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, Homemakers Workshop, Meals on Wheels, Order of the Eastern Star, March of Dimes and many other groups. She was an avid bridge player and hosted many lively bridge parties over the years. Ruth and her family traveled extensively through the United States by car, enjoying the natural beauty and always visiting with friends and family along the way. She rarely lost track of anyone and corresponded for years with people she may have only met once or twice!
After Sam retired from the West Central Experiment Station in 1995, he and Ruth made the decision to move back to Indiana, purchasing a home in Crawfordsville. There, they reconnected with family and friends and enjoyed hosting many of them in their home. Ruth volunteered extensively and served as a historian at the Crawfordsville Public Library, a docent at the Montgomery Historical Society’s Lane Place, a founding member of the Genealogy Club, a worker at the Wesley Thrift Shop, and a dedicated member of the First United Methodist Church. Sam’s retirement allowed more time for travel, and they took cruises to Mexico, through the Panama Canal and Caribbean, had extended tours of Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland and Wales, and attended several Elderhostels throughout the United States.
Ruth was an incredible grandmother and loved to tell stories and play games with her four grandchildren. Whenever possible, she and Sam would make it a point to visit them several times a year and be there for important milestones. On more than one occasion, Ruth provided detailed historical information for class projects and research papers and was the subject of at least one grandchild’s biography assignment.
Ruth’s unbounded enthusiasm and curiosity, lifelong caring for her family and friends, and incredible can-do attitude gave her a most remarkable life. She lived every moment of her 92 years to the fullest, always right in the middle of the action, taking charge of every situation and making new friends wherever she went. She had an unparalleled memory for details and could tell amazing stories about her life's adventures and all the people she met on her journey. She was one of a kind and will be missed dearly by all the people whose lives she touched.
Ruth passed away on Dec 31, 2020, the day after she and Sam celebrated their 60th anniversary. She was buried in a small graveside ceremony at Oak Hill Cemetery in Crawfordsville on Jan 12, 2021. A memorial service to celebrate Ruth and her extraordinary life will be held later this year at the First United Methodist Church in Crawfordsville. In the meantime, friends and family are encouraged to post memories in Ruth’s guestbook on the Hunt & Son Funeral Home’s website at www.huntandson.com/obits. We know that she would love to keep her stories alive and have them shared by family and friends.
Born May 6, 1928 in Riverside, Indiana, Ruth was the fourth child of Ezra and Nellie Coats. When Ruth was 2, her family moved to the town of Templeton in central Indiana. Her mother was the town postmistress and librarian, and her father ran a machine shop and gas station. Ruth and her siblings ran wild in that little town and always found ways to entertain themselves. Many of her favorite stories were about the colorful characters who resided in Templeton during her childhood. Ruth attended Otterbein High School and graduated in 1946.
Ruth’s parents were firm believers in the benefits of education, so they made sure that all 5 children had the opportunity to go to college. Ruth attended Ball State Teachers College in Muncie, Indiana and graduated in 1949. She began her career as a third-grade teacher in Logansport, Indiana, where she taught 18 students in a converted coal bin. The following year, she had a class of 42 students and, at the end of the year, declared that she “would rather dig ditches than teach!”
In the summer of 1952, she traveled via cargo ship to visit her sister Lillis and her husband Chet on a rubber plantation in Liberia, West Africa. She had some amazing adventures during her time there, like taking the wheel of the first plane she had ever flown on! She documented all of her African experiences with pictures, diary entries, and letters home to her family in Indiana.
In 1954, she was shown a newspaper clipping entitled, “AIR FORCE WANTS TEACHERS WITH URGE TO TRAVEL.” She signed up and spent a year teaching at Pepperell Air Force Base near St. John’s, Newfoundland. Her next assignment was teaching third grade at the US air base school in Bordeaux, France. She and her fellow teachers had many memorable experiences while exploring France, Italy, Germany, Spain, England and Switzerland during that exciting year!
After her time in France, she returned to the US and spent several years teaching third grade in West Lafayette, while continuing her master’s degree studies at Indiana University. One evening, after staying up all night the night before working on a paper, she was invited out to a party with friends. At the party, she was introduced to a chatty fellow from South Africa and a quiet fellow named Sam. Amazingly, Sam was the one who called her back! They were married on Dec 30, 1960 and lived in West Lafayette while Sam finished his PhD at Purdue University.
Ruth and Sam moved to Minnesota in 1963 when Sam took a position at the University of Minnesota’s West Central Experiment Station in Morris. Their first daughter Rebecca Jane was born on August 23, 1963, and Sarah Elizabeth was born 2 years later on September 21, 1965. Ruth worked as student teacher evaluator and part time librarian at the WC Experiment Station for 17 years. She was a wonderful mother, always heading up creative projects and lending a hand wherever she was needed. She was a pillar of the Morris community and an active volunteer at the Morris Public Library, as well as a Girl Scout leader, election judge, church leader, and county fair judge. She also participated in the UMM Women’s Association, Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, Homemakers Workshop, Meals on Wheels, Order of the Eastern Star, March of Dimes and many other groups. She was an avid bridge player and hosted many lively bridge parties over the years. Ruth and her family traveled extensively through the United States by car, enjoying the natural beauty and always visiting with friends and family along the way. She rarely lost track of anyone and corresponded for years with people she may have only met once or twice!
After Sam retired from the West Central Experiment Station in 1995, he and Ruth made the decision to move back to Indiana, purchasing a home in Crawfordsville. There, they reconnected with family and friends and enjoyed hosting many of them in their home. Ruth volunteered extensively and served as a historian at the Crawfordsville Public Library, a docent at the Montgomery Historical Society’s Lane Place, a founding member of the Genealogy Club, a worker at the Wesley Thrift Shop, and a dedicated member of the First United Methodist Church. Sam’s retirement allowed more time for travel, and they took cruises to Mexico, through the Panama Canal and Caribbean, had extended tours of Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland and Wales, and attended several Elderhostels throughout the United States.
Ruth was an incredible grandmother and loved to tell stories and play games with her four grandchildren. Whenever possible, she and Sam would make it a point to visit them several times a year and be there for important milestones. On more than one occasion, Ruth provided detailed historical information for class projects and research papers and was the subject of at least one grandchild’s biography assignment.
Ruth’s unbounded enthusiasm and curiosity, lifelong caring for her family and friends, and incredible can-do attitude gave her a most remarkable life. She lived every moment of her 92 years to the fullest, always right in the middle of the action, taking charge of every situation and making new friends wherever she went. She had an unparalleled memory for details and could tell amazing stories about her life's adventures and all the people she met on her journey. She was one of a kind and will be missed dearly by all the people whose lives she touched.
Ruth passed away on Dec 31, 2020, the day after she and Sam celebrated their 60th anniversary. She was buried in a small graveside ceremony at Oak Hill Cemetery in Crawfordsville on Jan 12, 2021. A memorial service to celebrate Ruth and her extraordinary life will be held later this year at the First United Methodist Church in Crawfordsville. In the meantime, friends and family are encouraged to post memories in Ruth’s guestbook on the Hunt & Son Funeral Home’s website at www.huntandson.com/obits. We know that she would love to keep her stories alive and have them shared by family and friends.
Ruth Irene (Coats) Evans, 92, formerly of Crawfordsville, Indiana and Morris, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on December 31, 2020 at Westminster Village in West Lafayette, Indiana. She is survived by her husband Samuel Evans; daughters Rebecca (Eric) Gottschalk and Sarah (Dan) Connolly; grandchildren Meghan Gottschalk, Benjamin Connolly, Samuel Connolly, and Nathaniel Connolly; and siblings Mary Jane (Coats) Nichols and John Coats, as well as many extended family members. She was preceded in death by her siblings Lowell Coats and Lillis (Coats) Hunter.
Born May 6, 1928 in Riverside, Indiana, Ruth was the fourth child of Ezra and Nellie Coats. When Ruth was 2, her family moved to the town of Templeton in central Indiana. Her mother was the town postmistress and librarian, and her father ran a machine shop and gas station. Ruth and her siblings ran wild in that little town and always found ways to entertain themselves. Many of her favorite stories were about the colorful characters who resided in Templeton during her childhood. Ruth attended Otterbein High School and graduated in 1946.
Ruth’s parents were firm believers in the benefits of education, so they made sure that all 5 children had the opportunity to go to college. Ruth attended Ball State Teachers College in Muncie, Indiana and graduated in 1949. She began her career as a third-grade teacher in Logansport, Indiana, where she taught 18 students in a converted coal bin. The following year, she had a class of 42 students and, at the end of the year, declared that she “would rather dig ditches than teach!”
In the summer of 1952, she traveled via cargo ship to visit her sister Lillis and her husband Chet on a rubber plantation in Liberia, West Africa. She had some amazing adventures during her time there, like taking the wheel of the first plane she had ever flown on! She documented all of her African experiences with pictures, diary entries, and letters home to her family in Indiana.
In 1954, she was shown a newspaper clipping entitled, “AIR FORCE WANTS TEACHERS WITH URGE TO TRAVEL.” She signed up and spent a year teaching at Pepperell Air Force Base near St. John’s, Newfoundland. Her next assignment was teaching third grade at the US air base school in Bordeaux, France. She and her fellow teachers had many memorable experiences while exploring France, Italy, Germany, Spain, England and Switzerland during that exciting year!
After her time in France, she returned to the US and spent several years teaching third grade in West Lafayette, while continuing her master’s degree studies at Indiana University. One evening, after staying up all night the night before working on a paper, she was invited out to a party with friends. At the party, she was introduced to a chatty fellow from South Africa and a quiet fellow named Sam. Amazingly, Sam was the one who called her back! They were married on Dec 30, 1960 and lived in West Lafayette while Sam finished his PhD at Purdue University.
Ruth and Sam moved to Minnesota in 1963 when Sam took a position at the University of Minnesota’s West Central Experiment Station in Morris. Their first daughter Rebecca Jane was born on August 23, 1963, and Sarah Elizabeth was born 2 years later on September 21, 1965. Ruth worked as student teacher evaluator and part time librarian at the WC Experiment Station for 17 years. She was a wonderful mother, always heading up creative projects and lending a hand wherever she was needed. She was a pillar of the Morris community and an active volunteer at the Morris Public Library, as well as a Girl Scout leader, election judge, church leader, and county fair judge. She also participated in the UMM Women’s Association, Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, Homemakers Workshop, Meals on Wheels, Order of the Eastern Star, March of Dimes and many other groups. She was an avid bridge player and hosted many lively bridge parties over the years. Ruth and her family traveled extensively through the United States by car, enjoying the natural beauty and always visiting with friends and family along the way. She rarely lost track of anyone and corresponded for years with people she may have only met once or twice!
After Sam retired from the West Central Experiment Station in 1995, he and Ruth made the decision to move back to Indiana, purchasing a home in Crawfordsville. There, they reconnected with family and friends and enjoyed hosting many of them in their home. Ruth volunteered extensively and served as a historian at the Crawfordsville Public Library, a docent at the Montgomery Historical Society’s Lane Place, a founding member of the Genealogy Club, a worker at the Wesley Thrift Shop, and a dedicated member of the First United Methodist Church. Sam’s retirement allowed more time for travel, and they took cruises to Mexico, through the Panama Canal and Caribbean, had extended tours of Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland and Wales, and attended several Elderhostels throughout the United States.
Ruth was an incredible grandmother and loved to tell stories and play games with her four grandchildren. Whenever possible, she and Sam would make it a point to visit them several times a year and be there for important milestones. On more than one occasion, Ruth provided detailed historical information for class projects and research papers and was the subject of at least one grandchild’s biography assignment.
Ruth’s unbounded enthusiasm and curiosity, lifelong caring for her family and friends, and incredible can-do attitude gave her a most remarkable life. She lived every moment of her 92 years to the fullest, always right in the middle of the action, taking charge of every situation and making new friends wherever she went. She had an unparalleled memory for details and could tell amazing stories about her life's adventures and all the people she met on her journey. She was one of a kind and will be missed dearly by all the people whose lives she touched.
Ruth passed away on Dec 31, 2020, the day after she and Sam celebrated their 60th anniversary. She was buried in a small graveside ceremony at Oak Hill Cemetery in Crawfordsville on Jan 12, 2021. A memorial service to celebrate Ruth and her extraordinary life will be held later this year at the First United Methodist Church in Crawfordsville. In the meantime, friends and family are encouraged to post memories in Ruth’s guestbook on the Hunt & Son Funeral Home’s website at www.huntandson.com/obits. We know that she would love to keep her stories alive and have them shared by family and friends.
Born May 6, 1928 in Riverside, Indiana, Ruth was the fourth child of Ezra and Nellie Coats. When Ruth was 2, her family moved to the town of Templeton in central Indiana. Her mother was the town postmistress and librarian, and her father ran a machine shop and gas station. Ruth and her siblings ran wild in that little town and always found ways to entertain themselves. Many of her favorite stories were about the colorful characters who resided in Templeton during her childhood. Ruth attended Otterbein High School and graduated in 1946.
Ruth’s parents were firm believers in the benefits of education, so they made sure that all 5 children had the opportunity to go to college. Ruth attended Ball State Teachers College in Muncie, Indiana and graduated in 1949. She began her career as a third-grade teacher in Logansport, Indiana, where she taught 18 students in a converted coal bin. The following year, she had a class of 42 students and, at the end of the year, declared that she “would rather dig ditches than teach!”
In the summer of 1952, she traveled via cargo ship to visit her sister Lillis and her husband Chet on a rubber plantation in Liberia, West Africa. She had some amazing adventures during her time there, like taking the wheel of the first plane she had ever flown on! She documented all of her African experiences with pictures, diary entries, and letters home to her family in Indiana.
In 1954, she was shown a newspaper clipping entitled, “AIR FORCE WANTS TEACHERS WITH URGE TO TRAVEL.” She signed up and spent a year teaching at Pepperell Air Force Base near St. John’s, Newfoundland. Her next assignment was teaching third grade at the US air base school in Bordeaux, France. She and her fellow teachers had many memorable experiences while exploring France, Italy, Germany, Spain, England and Switzerland during that exciting year!
After her time in France, she returned to the US and spent several years teaching third grade in West Lafayette, while continuing her master’s degree studies at Indiana University. One evening, after staying up all night the night before working on a paper, she was invited out to a party with friends. At the party, she was introduced to a chatty fellow from South Africa and a quiet fellow named Sam. Amazingly, Sam was the one who called her back! They were married on Dec 30, 1960 and lived in West Lafayette while Sam finished his PhD at Purdue University.
Ruth and Sam moved to Minnesota in 1963 when Sam took a position at the University of Minnesota’s West Central Experiment Station in Morris. Their first daughter Rebecca Jane was born on August 23, 1963, and Sarah Elizabeth was born 2 years later on September 21, 1965. Ruth worked as student teacher evaluator and part time librarian at the WC Experiment Station for 17 years. She was a wonderful mother, always heading up creative projects and lending a hand wherever she was needed. She was a pillar of the Morris community and an active volunteer at the Morris Public Library, as well as a Girl Scout leader, election judge, church leader, and county fair judge. She also participated in the UMM Women’s Association, Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, Homemakers Workshop, Meals on Wheels, Order of the Eastern Star, March of Dimes and many other groups. She was an avid bridge player and hosted many lively bridge parties over the years. Ruth and her family traveled extensively through the United States by car, enjoying the natural beauty and always visiting with friends and family along the way. She rarely lost track of anyone and corresponded for years with people she may have only met once or twice!
After Sam retired from the West Central Experiment Station in 1995, he and Ruth made the decision to move back to Indiana, purchasing a home in Crawfordsville. There, they reconnected with family and friends and enjoyed hosting many of them in their home. Ruth volunteered extensively and served as a historian at the Crawfordsville Public Library, a docent at the Montgomery Historical Society’s Lane Place, a founding member of the Genealogy Club, a worker at the Wesley Thrift Shop, and a dedicated member of the First United Methodist Church. Sam’s retirement allowed more time for travel, and they took cruises to Mexico, through the Panama Canal and Caribbean, had extended tours of Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland and Wales, and attended several Elderhostels throughout the United States.
Ruth was an incredible grandmother and loved to tell stories and play games with her four grandchildren. Whenever possible, she and Sam would make it a point to visit them several times a year and be there for important milestones. On more than one occasion, Ruth provided detailed historical information for class projects and research papers and was the subject of at least one grandchild’s biography assignment.
Ruth’s unbounded enthusiasm and curiosity, lifelong caring for her family and friends, and incredible can-do attitude gave her a most remarkable life. She lived every moment of her 92 years to the fullest, always right in the middle of the action, taking charge of every situation and making new friends wherever she went. She had an unparalleled memory for details and could tell amazing stories about her life's adventures and all the people she met on her journey. She was one of a kind and will be missed dearly by all the people whose lives she touched.
Ruth passed away on Dec 31, 2020, the day after she and Sam celebrated their 60th anniversary. She was buried in a small graveside ceremony at Oak Hill Cemetery in Crawfordsville on Jan 12, 2021. A memorial service to celebrate Ruth and her extraordinary life will be held later this year at the First United Methodist Church in Crawfordsville. In the meantime, friends and family are encouraged to post memories in Ruth’s guestbook on the Hunt & Son Funeral Home’s website at www.huntandson.com/obits. We know that she would love to keep her stories alive and have them shared by family and friends.
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