Ruth A. Keno

Obituary for Ruth A. Keno

Ruth Agnes Keno, age 86, passed on Friday, March 11, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Ruth was born September 15, 1935 in Indianapolis, Indiana as the second daughter of Drue and Myla (Etter) Keno. Growing up in the Indianapolis community of Lockefield, she attended Indianapolis Public elementary schools (IPS) and graduated from Shortridge High School. Ruth continued her education and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1957 from the former Indiana Central College known now as University of Indianapolis and became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. She earned a master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance from Butler College known now as Butler University.
Ruth began her teaching career in the fall of 1957 at Crispus Attucks High School Teaching Home Economics and worked with the YMCA boys and girls’ day camp during the summer. She continued teaching in the Indianapolis Public Schools for 38 years at the elementary, middle and high school levels, and in addition she instructed adults in night school. Many of her home economics students learned how to bake (cookies and pineapple upside down cake) and sew (aprons). Ruth retired from her teaching career while employed at IPS Forrest Manor Middle School. She was married to the late William (Bill) Malone and from that union they had three children, Mark, Michele, and Cathy. During her life, Ruth lovely fostered a son, Tony Ford Cole and daughter Jeanette Hauck-Booth throughout her life. She loved to play the piano, sew, crochet, make dolls, watch videos, travel, and write poetry. Her favor colors were red and yellow, which she wore, crochet and sewed items very often and was working on another new yellow sweater. Ruth acquired the nick-name ‘Rudy’ from her sister Alyce (proceeded in death), who at the time of her birth could not pronounce Ruth.
She came to Christ at an early age and attended Bethel AME Church, The Church of Christ, and Westlane Christian Church. Ruth loved to read the bible, pray for others, and give wise words of encouragement. She really enjoyed spending quality time with family, being very playful, all the while laughing with an irresistible smile on her face. Ruth was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, caring sister, aunt, cousin and friend to all. She was never selfish, always thought of others and if you needed it and Nana had, she would give it to you!
Ruth leaves to cherish her memory: children, Mark (Marshari) Malone, Michele (Gregory) Livers, Cathy (Jerry) Pullings, foster son Tony Ford Cole, foster daughter Jeanette Hauck-Booth; grandchildren, Mia (James) Okudo, Mika (Zelalem) Tesfaye, Malaika (Preston) Kai, Cydnie Malone-Jones, Julian Pullings, Jalen Pullings; great-grandchildren, Jada Gibson, Michael Okudo, James Okudo, Dave Okudo, Anaya Tesfaye, Caleb Tesfaye, Taraji Kai, and a host of cousins, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Drue and Myla Keno, sister, Alyce F. Wilson, nephew, Adam Keno Wilson, great-granddaughter Cianna Yahaira Kai, and former spouse, William J. Malone.