Ruth Eleanor (Essington) Dicks

Jan 24, 1915 - Nov 10, 2007

Not long ago, someone asked, "When was the last time you touched someone's life?" Living a life, one that matters, is an ideal worth remembering. And it helps with, a primer, on such a life to point to, as that of Ruth Eleanor Dicks. Before she died Nov. 10, 2007, on the family farm in Veedersburg, Ind., Ruth lived a life that touched many lives.

Born in South Bend, Ind., Jan. 24, 1915, to John and Myrtle Essington, Ruth was a child who early on, knew her way. In many respects, she was ahead of her time. A career woman and educator credentialed and degreed by Indiana University, she flourished as devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and much admired educator, teaching home economics over a 40-year plus career at West Lebanon, Covington and Hammond, Ind., schools.

She touched the lives of hundreds of students. Years later, they'd approach her with a kind word whenever she'd cross paths with them. Indeed, not long ago, a group of former students sought her out to visit her on the Veedersburg farm she adored. The purpose of their visit was to say "thanks" and to reminisce with a woman whose teaching inspired and influenced so many.

To know Ruth is to remember her reflections, her keepsakes and the sayings that motivated and inspired her throughout her life. "When you give to others nothing is impossible," she once wrote. Ruth fondly collected such encouragements and affirmations, only happy to share them with those she loved. Her belief was strong in the life lessons found in these collected wisdoms gleaned from her reading.

Sometimes she would post these aphorisms on a home bulletin board, refrigerator or next to her bathroom vanity mirror. She also took pleasure covering the bulletin board with clippings, photos and news items about her children and grandchildren. A particularly prominent one was "Indiana by birth, Hoosier by the grace of God."

Beloved mother of John, Bob, Jim and Nancy and loving wife of Lawrence "Larry" E. Dicks, who preceded her in death Nov. 6, 1999, Ruth's life was one of purpose. She founded the Head Start Program in Fountain County. And for many years, well into her 80s, Ruth volunteered to teach reading to those in need.

Her children still remember with admiring affection, their mother's kindness, compassion, integrity, and convictions, always putting faith to action. A true believer in Christianity, Ruth was a lifetime member of the Methodist Church. Ruth particularly understood the Scripture's message of supportive compassion. They have memories of their mother on her deliveries of food and clothing to the needy in their community and during economic hard times of the early 50s, she would feed "hobos" who rode the trains through the Troy Township on tracks that bordered "the farm." Ruth never turned anyone away.

Ruth was an active supporter of youth, from the wards of the orphanages she visited to the young future homemakers of the FHA. For several years, she also served as home economics extension agent for Fountain County.

Always a social person, Ruth loved to travel and to be around others. She enjoyed trips with friends and family whether it was antiquing; sight-seeing; or brunches at Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College or at the Turkey Run Inn. As a friend, she was outgoing, personable and enthusiastic. She was an avid member of the Coffeenians; the Home Ec Club; Bridge Club; the Booklovers Club; the Historical Society; Psi Iota Xi; and also had served as a 4-H, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts leader during her lifetime.

And as a leader, she energized and motivated. In Fountain County, she spent many enjoyable years in the Fountain County Garden Club, holding various leadership offices. She especially savored evenings at home whether entertaining, playing cards or watching her beloved Indiana Hoosiers' basketball team.

Ruth loved animals (except for a disagreeable milking cow named "June") especially dogs and for many years, was accompanied by a succession of Scotties named "Mac." She also found great joy in birds, especially robins and cardinals and she adorned her garden with a number of bird-feeders, which she always kept full.

She also delighted in collecting antiques and searched for "treasures," as she called them, whether it was a tiny inexpensive ceramic, a buffet cabinet, a chandelier or a blue willow plate. Half the fun was bargaining over prices and always the artful diplomat, Ruth continually made new friends.

Following her retirement, Ruth and Larry moved back to the family farm at Layton Station in Veedersburg. They traveled, throughout the United States in their R.V., something Ruth loved to do. They camped and fished, and as passionate racing fans, had fun visiting race tracks large and small, especially dirt tracks across Indiana, But always, Ruth's favorite place to visit was her return trip back home, to the farm she treasured and often called "the best place in the world."

Ruth is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Warren Bull, of Modesto, Calif.; son, John, a retired attorney, and daughter-in-law, Karin, of Gardnerville, Nev.; son, Bob, a physician, and daughter-in-law, Marcey, of Greenwood, Ind.; son, Jim, a retired pharmaceutical executive, and daughter-in-law, Bettie, of Dousman, Wis.; and her daughter, Nancy, a retired oil company executive, and son-in-law, Mauricio, of Gardnerville, Nev. Ruth is also survived by seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, with a fifth great-grandchild to arrive in February, 2008.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either of the following: The Salvation Army, Indiana Division at Indiana Divisional Headquarters, 3100 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46208; Western Indiana Community Foundation, c/o Covington Circle Trail, P.O. Box 175, Covington, IN 47932.

Ruth will be interred with her husband, Larry. The family plans a memorial service in the spring of 2008 on the Veedersburg family farm. Ruth lives on in the cherished memories of those that knew and loved her, as captured in the following 95-year-old poem discovered during one of her last antiquing trips
Published in many Indiana newspapers

Sources: Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com

11/07/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/217801423/helen_marian-bull