Donald Eugene Ruark

Friday, March 10, 2023

Donald Eugene Ruark, 89, of Fillmore, passed away on Friday, March 3, 2023, at Hendricks Regional Health in Danville.

Donald was born in Fillmore on Aug. 25, 1933, the son of Herschel and Elsie (Cowgill) Ruark.

He was a 1951 graduate of Fillmore High School. He was a graduate of Purdue University and earned his master’s in business administration (MBA) from Indiana University.

A lifelong resident of Putnam and Hendricks counties, Mr. Ruark also lived internationally for a period of time. He proudly served as a captain in the United States Air Force. He worked as an electrical engineer and was an international executive with Eli Lilly for 36 years.

Donald was a member of Gobin United Methodist Church and 100-Plus Men Who Care of Putnam County. He was also a supporter and past treasurer of the Putnam County Community Foundation.

Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Linda Ruark; three sons, Steven Ruark (Pam) of Sacramento, Calif., Greg Ruark (Jody) of Greencastle and Dave Ruark of Indianapolis; four grandchildren, Kathryn Ruark of Buffalo, N.Y., Wesley Ruark of Milwaukee, Wis., Jillian Ruark of Milwaukee, Wis., and Quinlan Ruark of Oshkosh, Wis.; a sister, Rose Ellen (Pody) Gherardi; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, William Ruark and his infant brother; and five sisters, Mary Scotten, Margaret Martin, Virginia Clark, Geraldine Farmer and Patricia Bittles.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 24 at Bittles & Hurt Funeral Home with Pastor Bryan Langdoc officiating. Burial will follow in Fillmore Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until time of service on Friday.

Memories may be shared with the family at www.BittlesandHurt.com.