Ruth Ann Ackerman

Ruth Ann (Fleming) (Zehring) Ackerman, of Carmel, IN, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 15, 2026 of natural causes. She was 97 years old. She was born outside of Kokomo, on January 24, 1929. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and June Fleming, brother Richard, and sister Mary Helen. In1947 she married Claude M. Zehring, Jr., known as "Junior". He owned the IGA grocery store in Burlington, where they resided. Together they had three children, Steve (deceased), Vicky, and Judy (Eric).

In 1955 Junior had an unsuccessful operation and it caused a downward spiral in his health which ultimately led to his passing at the young age of 30. He and Ruth Ann had been married eight years. In 1957, Ruth Ann met and married Glenn J.

Ackerman, a widower from Delphi, with three children of his own, Joe (deceased), Mary, and Margaret (Tonda). Glenn was a very successful pharmaceutical salesman and provided well for his family. Ruth Ann sold the grocery store and she and her children then moved to Glenn's house in Delphi, which was enlarged to accommodate this new family. It was in the country and an ideal place for the children to play, with a creek, woods, a long downhill sled run and a horse to ride, Together Ruth Ann and Glenn had Mike (Karen), and Scott. After a number of years they moved to Lafayette and lived in a three-story, architecturally interesting home with lots of nooks and crannies, built during the Civil War. The family always said that was the best house ever. 

After 12 years they then moved to Carmel, which was more centrally located for Glenn's work. In 1999, after 42 years of marriage and eight kids, Glenn passed away from leukemia. Ruth Ann worked at Carmel High School as a cashier in the staff cafeteria and remained friends with her coworkers after retiring and took several trips with them to Michigan in the summers and stayed at the cottage of one of them. She was also an avid card lover of Bridge and Euchre and played in groups of each. To her, it was serious business and she played to win. She enjoyed special times with her grandchildren and going to their many sports and musical activities. Ruth eventually sold the house and moved to Lenox Trace Condominiums. She lived independently in her condo for 14 years, until it was time for her to moveto Sanders Glen Assisted Living Facility in Westfield. She always contended, though, that she was a Carmelite. She lived at Sanders Glen until her death.

She had 15 grandchildren and many, many great grandchildren. The family wishes to thank Sanders Glen, Paradigm Hospice, and the caregivers from Griswold Companion Care. A very special thanks goes to her caregiver Ennie, who brought such joy to Ruth Ann and family in the last months of her life because they were very close and laughed a lot.

A visitation honoring Ruth Ann's life will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 11am - 12:30pm at Flanner Buchanan - Carmel (325 E. Carmel Dr. Carmel, IN 46032). A Funeral Service will begin at 12:30pm.