Rachel Elizabeth Ruona

Rachel Elizabeth Ruona, 85, long time Mooresville resident, retired school teacher, and civic leader, passed away Saturday, August 20, 2011, at Hoosier Village Retirement Center, Indianapolis. Mrs. Ruona was born August 15, 1926, in Indianapolis, to the late Glenn Roberts and Katherine (Ferguson) Roberts.

Rachel was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who enjoyed teaching others in all categories. She loved to garden, travel and enjoyed attending theatres.

Mrs. Ruona played a vital role in helping to make Mooresville a better place. She was a longtime and faithful member of the Mooresville Friends Meeting. Rachel was very involved in many organizations and clubs, some of which included Delta Kappa Gamma, American Association of University Women, the Likely Literary Club, Red Hats, Mooresville Order of the Eastern Star, Pythian Sisters, and the Humane Society of Morgan County. An avid gardener, Rachel was a member of the Garden Club and helped start a children’s garden club, Twiggs. She was also a devoted board member of the Community Foundation of Morgan County and the Academy of Hoosier Heritage Museum.

Rachel was given the honor of Mooresvillian of the Year in 2002 by the Mooresville Chamber of Commerce. In 1992 Rachel represented Morgan County as a Hoosier Founding Family during a ceremony at the State House.

A life- long student Rachel was proud of the fact that she graduated from high school in three years and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in three years from Butler University. She began her teaching career at the age of 19; she was told at the time she was the youngest person from Butler to graduate and work in their degreed field. She later earned her Masters at Indiana University Bloomington. Mrs. Ruona was a fourth grade teacher at Newby Elementary for 30 years, retiring in 1991, and continued to substitute ten more years.

Mrs. Ruona was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Stuart Ruona.

Survivors include her son, William (Marcia) Ruona, Bolingbrook, IL; daughters, Karen (John) DeRolf, Camby, Rebecca (Doug) Stroud, Kansas City, MO, Victoria (Bruce) Henderson, Indianapolis, and Deborah Morris, Indianapolis; grandchildren, Chris (Lisa) Radclif of New Castle, Michelle (James) Ray-Stanger of Bloomington, Kirsten Ruona, Kevin Ruona, Kenneth Ruona, Glenn Stroud, Rachel Henderson, Eric Henderson, Zachary Morris, and Michael Morris; great grandchildren, Suzanne Ray, Colton Radclif, Nicholas Radclif, MacKenzie Radclif, Ashlyn Stanger, and Bethany Stanger.

Friends and family will gather from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, August 25, 2011, at Carlisle – Branson Funeral Service & Crematory, Mooresville. A funeral service to honor and celebrate the well lived life of Rachel Ruona will begin at 3pm on Friday, August 26, 2011, in the Mooresville Friends Church. Burial will follow in Mooresville Cemetery. Pastor Sue Whitesel will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to the Academy of Hoosier Heritage Museum or to the Mooresville Friends Church, Kid’s Club.

Visit www.carlislebranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.