Ruth Donelson

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Ruth Donelson, formerly of Greencastle, passed away at the age of 100 in Orlando on Sept. 6, 2010.

Ruth was born and raised in Indianapolis and graduated from Arsenal Technical High School.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Norman (Don).

She and her husband were proprietors of Donelson's Pharmacy on the west side of the square for 27 years (1947-1974). Ruth lived in Greencastle until a year after her husband's death in 1983. She moved to North Fort Myers, Fla. where she resided there until 1992. In 1992, she moved to Hilton Head Island, S.C. to be near her daughter, Marilyn. In 2005 after breaking her hip, she moved to an assisted living community in Orlando to be near her daughters Janet and Debbie.

While in Greencastle, she was an active member of the First Christian Church. She has been an active church member in each community she has lived in.

Ruth was known for cooking, gardening, homemaking and her wonderful dry sense of humor. While in Ft. Myers and Hilton Head she rode her three-wheeler around the neighborhoods looking for interesting social activities. At 100 she could still beat anyone at cards. Ruth attributed her long life to eating chocolate every day, taking one step at a time and continuing to wait on the Lord for answers. Perhaps Ruth's sweet spirit contributed to her long life.

She is survived by her three daughters, Mrs. Victor Brian (Marilyn) of Hilton Head Island and Janet and Debbie Donelson of Orlando; four grandchildren, Steven Brian and his wife Vickie of St. Simons Island, Ga., Julie and her husband, Tim Rhino of Carey, N.C., Karen and her husband, Brian Pawsat of Herndon, Va., Dr. Andrew Brian and his wife Dawn of Birmingham, Ala. She is survived by nine great-grandchildren, Jennifer and Morgan Brian, Michelle and Brian Rhino, William and Evan Pawsat and Katherine Brian, Claire Brian and Drew Brian.

She is also survived by her niece, Charlotte Carmichael and her great-niece, Ruth Walker, both of Indianapolis; her niece, Joan Moore of New Albany and her nephew, Ed Beebinger and his wife Joanne of Bettendorff, Iowa.

She will be buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.