Ruth Elaine Helderman Mills

The child of homesteaders and born on the plains of Colorado on March 15, 1929, Ruth Elaine Helderman Mills passed away on Feb. 23, 2016 surrounded by family.

Her early years were spent on the family sheep ranch.

On Jan. 4, 1947 she married Clarence Alfred Mills who passed away on Sept. 25, 1988. Their early marriage was spent in eastern Colorado tending their dairy farm.

In 1953, they moved to Indiana where Ruth spent the rest of her life.

From that union were born three daughters, Donna Mills Reedy Everett (Arlen) of Marietta, Ga., Sharon Mills Ashmore (Wayne) of Pensacola, Fla., and Debra Mills Woody (Jim), formerly of Greencastle.

Ruth was a member of the Glendale Eastern Star , Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, and various other church and social organizations.

The role she remained most proud of was as mother, grandmother and friend.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Maitland and Mavis (Leao) Helderman; her husband; her daughter, Debbie Woody; her brother, Emery Helderman; and sister Alice Helderman Sharp.

In addition to her two surviving daughters, she leaves five grandchildren, Mark V. Reedy of Gainesville, Ga.; Allyson Ashmore Hale (Tripp) of Pensacola, Fla..; Lindsey Ashmore Aune (Ben) of Celina, Texas; Joshua Woody of Newburgh, Ind., and Katrina Woody of Marietta, Ga. and five great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Ruth's life will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Washington.

Friends may call at Ed Lee Mortuary in Washington on Friday from 4-7 p.m. or from noon Saturday until service time at the church. Burial will be at Alfordsville Community Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Wesley UMC, 1115 McCormick Ave., Washington, IN 47501 or the American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate, Memorial and Tributes Program, Dept. 77-3968, Chicago, IL 60678-3968.