Ruth Stone, 86,of Fort Branch passed away on August 27, 2013 at her home.  Ruth was born on July 23, 1927 in Owensville, IN to the late Melbourne and Gretel (Slover) Harmon. She married James W. Stone on June 1, 1946 and he preceded her in death on July 23, 2008.

Ruth is survived by her three children, James "Mick" Ginny Stone, Janice Ostrander of Fort Branch and Judy (Garry) Morgan of Haubstadt;  six grandchildren, Heather (Dan) Bonham, Nancy (Chris) Leuer, Nathan (Mary) Stone, Sarah (Eleanor) Ostrander, Jill Morgan and Matthew(Shannon) Morgan; eight  great  grandchildren, Jeremy Williams, Jack, Natalie and Sam Bonham, Rory and Violet Leuer, Eli and Molly Stone and baby boy Morgan, to arrive in December 2;  sisters Lora Trible of Fort Branch and Ruby Dilbeck of Bellmont IL. Three brothers preceded her in death, Marion, Warren and Marvin.

Ruth was a housewife and a member of Bethlehem General Baptist Church. She was a loyal Cardinal baseball fan.

Ruth began her work career at Briggs during WWII assembling Cosair Navy plane wings. She was proud to have completed the requirements to obtain a high school diploma later in life. She was retired from JC Penney. She and her husband owned and operated Jim Stone's Gun and Knife Shop in Fort Branch.

She always said that the best job ever was being a grandmother. Ruth will forever be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her presence was always felt with her unending prayers.  She taught us by example what it means to live a faith-driven life of love and service to others. She loved the Lord and He sustained her in the final days of life.

Her family would like to express gratitude to her loving caregivers, Edna Wright and Sandy Smith, who comforted her as her health deteriorated.

Visitation for Ruth will be Thursday, August 29, 2013 from 4pm to 8pm. Services will be 10 am on Friday, August 30, 2013 at 10 am at Stodghill Funeral Home in Fort Branch. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the IU Health Proton Therapy Center, directed to the Pediatric Care Fund that provides support for families with children undergoing treatment. Make checks payable to IU Health Therapy Center Please put in the memo line this is In Memory of Ruth Stone . Mail to: Amanda Burnham Director, Marketing and Development; Indiana University Health Proton Therapy Center; 2425 N Milo B Sampson Lane; Bloomington IN 47408-1398.  Receipts will be mailed to the donors for tax purposes.