Ruth Ellen Murden

Ruth Ellen Murden, 100, of West Terre Haute passed away peacefully at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday May 3, 2017 in Clinton Gardens at Clinton, Indiana. She was born in St. Mary Of The Woods, Indiana to Lee Roy Smith and Madge Ruth Rodgers Smith on March 27, 1917 and raised on the family farm with her sisters, Rosemary and Caryl and a cousin, James Lowell Jenkins. Ruth graduated from Concannon High School in 1934 and attended Indiana State Teachers College. She also attended Ivy Tech for her secretarial credentials. She worked for the Vigo County School Corporation as a school secretary at Concannon and West Vigo Middle School from 1961 until her retirement in 1982. Ruth married Andrew Jerome Murden on November 19, 1935. They had two children, Curtis and Barbara. Ruth and Andy were together until his death on April 23, 1988. She lived in the same house on Riggy Avenue in West Terre Haute from 1944 until 2012 when she was 95 years old and moved into assisted living. Ruth enjoyed reading, writing poetry, working crossword puzzles, sewing and cooking. She was a true homemaker and a doting mother. As well as a longtime Chicago Cubs fan. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew; parents Lee Roy and Madge Ruth Smith; sisters Anna Jane Smith, as an infant, and Rosemary Davidson; sisters-in-law Edith Newburn and Ann Murden; brothers-in-law Wayne Newburn, Theodore Davidson, George Okamoto, Elmer Murden, Murray Murden, and Calvin Murden; and a nephew Kelly George Okamoto. Ruth is survived by her children, Barbara Shewmaker (Eugene) and Curtis Murden (Jean); grandchildren Jim Shewmaker (Lauri), Mark Shewmaker (Hope), and Amy Wollowski (Michael); great grandchildren Seth Shewmaker, Emma Wollowski, and Tristan Wollowski. She is also survived by her sister Caryl Okamoto of Saint John, Indiana; Nieces RosaLee Weir, Nancy Davidson, Mary Jane Gorupic, Carol Irwin (Joe), Jill Okamoto Filingeri, and Erin Okamoto Protsman (Robert); Nephews Fred Newburn (Marcie), Tracy Okamoto (Leah), and Sean Okamoto; as well as many great nieces and great nephews; and long time friends Lena Bird and Anna Williams. The family wants to thank Clinton Gardens for the loving care Ruth received during her stay there. Special thanks to Jamie Bigger who was a special caregiver to Ruth. Graveside Services will be 1:00 p.m. Tuesday May 9th in Bethesda Cemetery at the family plot with Pastor Joseph Irwin officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the charity of donor's choice. A celebration of life and reception will immediately follow the services at the Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 6076 U.S. Hwy 150, West Terre Haute, IN. Care and arrangements have been entrusted to Fitzpatrick Funeral Home.