Ruth Nellans Urbin

Ruth Nellans Urbin, 90 of Rochester formerly of Kewanna passed away March 13, 2010 at 2:24 a.m. at Hickory Creek, Rochester.

Ruth was born on May 10, 1919 at her parents farm home east of Olive Branch Church west of Fulton to Guy and Bertha Barker Nellans. She was a 1937 Fulton High School graduate. On January 4, 1938 in Syracuse, she married John W. Urbin of Kewanna and he preceded in death November 26, 1994.

The Barkers and Nellans families were very musical and as a child at home they had Sunday night sing-alongs. Ruth loved music and she and her sister, Rachel even sang on WLS Radio in Chicago. She was still singing and playing the piano two weeks before her death.

She and her husband traveled the world on trips from Chevrolet and spent many years in Lehigh Acres, Florida. Her last trip to Florida was in February through March 2009 to spend time with her daughter Jeanne Anne and Brian and the grandchildren that live in Naples. She enjoyed revisiting the things she saw years ago during her winters there.

Ruth loved the birds, flowers and gardening. She sewed for all her children and herself in the latest styles. She raised African Violets under grow lights in her basement for years and was a member of two clubs in which the members traded slips to start a new plant. When she and John built an in ground pool in 1963 the grandchildren, neices and nephews, and sometimes all the neighborhood children, enjoyed endless hours of fun. Especially when she served her famous chocolate malts from her homemade chocolate syrup. She also enjoyed bowling with her husband in Winamac and Rochester. Her favorite pastime in her later years were all the grandbabies that came into her life.

She was a member of the Kewanna United Methodist Church, where she was formerly also a choir member, a member and former president of WSCS, a member of Eastern Star of Kewanna and a member of Kewanna Mothers Club.

Surviving are her children Janet Burkett & her husband, Jerry of Rochester, Jill Leazenby of Carmel, Jack Urbin & his wife, Jean of Kewanna, Joy Troutman & her husband, Thomas of Rochester,  son-in-law, Brian Markle of Naples, Florida, sister-in-law, Martha Ann Cook of Kewanna and 13 grandchildren, Jeralyn & Steve Hines, Rochester, Jay & Robin Burkett, Chicago, IL., Paige & Jim Simpson, Naples, FL., Patrick & Mirela Markle, Charlotte, N.C., Jeremy & Nicole Markle, Louisville, David & Erica Leazenby, Carmel, Amanda & Chad Kaluza, Carmel, Damon Leazenby, Noblesville, April & Ben Donahue, Honalulu, HI., Adam Troutman, Columbus, OH., Alissa Troutman, Naples, FL., Abby & Gary Rom, Valparaiso, and Jessica & Jeremy Rentschler, Fulton. Also surviving are 15 great grandchildren and 3 great, great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a daughter, Jeanne Anne Markle on May 26, 2009, a brother, Carl Nellans and sister, Rachel Rentschler.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at Kewanna United Methodist Church with Rev. Steven McPeek officiating. Burial will be in Citizens IOOF Cemetery, Kewanna.

Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Monday, March 15, 2010 at Harrison-Metzger & Rans Funeral Home, 123 E. Main St., Kewanna and also one hour prior to the time of service at the church.

The family request memorial contributions be made to the Kewanna United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 398, Kewanna, IN. 46939

Online condolences may be made to the Urbin family at www.harrisonmetzger.com