Ruby Watts Nesbitt

July 31, 1921-Dec. 2, 2020

Posted

Ruby Watts Nesbitt, 99, formerly of the New Richmond/Romney communities, passed away at 4 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, in Crown Pointe Assisted Living, Lebanon. 

Ruby was born July 31, 1921, in Tippecanoe County, to the late Carl and Ethel Bunnell Watts. She married William Richard “Dick” Nesbitt in Henderson, Kentucky, on June 25, 1942. He preceded her in death Sept. 24, 2013. 

She was raised and grew up in the New Richmond area and graduated from New Richmond High School with the class of 1938.  Prior to her marriage, Ruby was proud to have been the 49th woman hired by Alcoa in Lafayette, where she was a clerical office worker.   Following her marriage to Dick, she became a homemaker and farm wife. She had been active in Home Demonstration Club, Tuesday Study Club and a member of the former New Richmond United Methodist Church, where she served as a Sunday School teacher.  Ruby also actively encouraged her children’s academic progress as well as lending a hand in various parent support groups for music, 4-H and sports. She was also an accomplished baker: her chocolate devil’s food layer cake was a “prize winner.” In later life she and Dick joined the Jackson Heights United Methodist Church. During her long life, she witnessed and embraced many advances in our society:  horseback transportation to rocket travel, radio to television to the internet, dirt roads to interstates. That list goes on and on through 99 years of a wonderful life.

Ruby and Dick spent 30 winters in Arizona where they hiked the mountain trails, sightseeing, reveling in their retirement, adding to their circle of wonderful friends.

Surviving are: two daughters, Katherine Marie (James) Decker of Clarksville, Tennessee, and Carol Ann (Richard) Nester of Lebanon; son William Michael (Maxine) Nesbitt of Westfield; seven grandchildren, Jennifer (Joe) Taylor, Andrew (Megan) Decker, Tyler (Meghan) Nester, Suzanna (Jeff) Mayhugh, Kacia (Andy) Mills, Abigail (Todd) Geders and Ellen (David) Spivey; and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Robert “Spark” and John Watts; and three sisters, Ruth Thompson, Doris Swick and Martha Swick.

Visitation will be 2-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at Family and Friends Funeral Home of Wingate, with funeral services at 3:30 p.m. Pastor Duane Mycroft will officiate. Burial will follow in New Richmond Cemetery.

Ruby’s service will be live streamed on the Family and Friends Funeral Home Facebook page. Please follow the recommendations of the Indiana State Department of Health for COVID-19. Please wear a mask to enter. 

Memorial contributions may be directed to Habitat for Humanity, Lafayette Chapter or Jackson Heights United Methodist Church.

Visit us at www.familyandfriendsfh.com to sign the guest book or leave a condolence.


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