Ruth Stephenson

Ruth Ellen Judge Stephenson (March 2, 1928 – March 21, 2024)

Rudy (or Ruth Ellen when Ned was not able to find something) was born in Henry County, Indiana to Esther and Albert Judge on March 2, 1928. After moving during her youth with her family to Mulberry, Indiana, she met and married Ned Stephenson in 1948. While Ned was in school at Purdue University, she worked for the university as a keypunch operator. The couple relocated first to Anderson, and then in 1961 to Indianapolis, where they raised their daughters, Janice and Nancy. In their 66 years of marriage, Rudy became an exceptional homemaker and active parent who excelled in cooking, gardening, and hosting events for family and friends. She and Ned enjoyed golf and world travel together. Beaches held a particular fascination for Rudy to indulge her love of the sun, sand, and ocean breezes while collecting seashells and building drip sandcastles. Playing the piano gave her joy as did rearranging the perennials in her flower beds to experiment with new designs. She developed into a champion bridge player with an uncanny ability to quickly know the cards in the hands of her table mates, perhaps because she counted cards as well as most other things! Rudy thoroughly enjoyed time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and she maintained her upbeat spirit and sense of humor to the last. Smiling in the warm sunlight of her garden while popping cherry tomatoes into her mouth is an image that remains for her family and many friends.

Rudy was preceded in death by her husband Ned Stephenson, her sister Emma Lou Reimer, and her brother J.C. Judge. She is survived by her daughters Janice Sommer (Scott) and Nancy Stephenson (Randy Starks), grandchildren Phillip Sommer, Ryan Sommer (Steph), and Alaine Vanderford (Kyle), step-grandsons Rory Starks and Dylan Starks, great-grandchildren Jackson, Melanie, and Lillian Sommer, Emma Ruth and Cole Vanderford, sister-in-law Coralee Judge, and many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Hoosier Village, AseraCare Hospice, and Visiting Angels for their devoted care of Rudy.