Ruby June Swihart, 85, of rural Wabash, Indiana, died at 8:40 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017 at Miller’s Merry Manor East in Wabash. She was born Aug. 19, 1932 in Urbana, to Ernest and Amelia (Rickert) Wilcox.

Ruby was a 1950 graduate of Lagro High School. She married John Charles Swihart in Urbana on Dec. 25, 1951; he died May 4, 2007. She was a farmer’s wife and a former cook at Metro North Elementary School in Wabash. She was a former member of the Roann First Brethren Church where she served as Church Moderator, Sunday School teacher, youth leader, and deaconess. She was a current member of the Roann Christian Church. Ruby also belonged to the Red Hat Society and was a mentor of M.O.P.S.. She enjoyed working in her flower garden, making wedding cakes, visiting with people, being a farmer’s wife, and especially loved her family gatherings.

She is survived by five children, Daniel (Shelley) Swihart, Philip (Cindy) Swihart, LuAnn (Phillip) Layman, Shirley (Brian) Powell, and Carol (Greg) Long, all of Wabash; eight grandchildren, Jamie (Meena) Swihart of New York, N.Y., Cory Swihart of Indianapolis; Katie (Chris) Marks of Franklin;  Brian (Natalie) Swihart of Wabash, Kristina (Levi) Tompkins of West Virginia, Rachel Layman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Ryan Layman and Martinna Powell, both of Wabash; five great-grandchildren, Brinlei and Breslyn Swihart, Landan Johnson, Luke Tompkins, and Nolan Swihart; her two brothers, Garland Wilcox and Ernest “Junior” Wilcox, both of North Manchester. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her grandson, Timothy Swihart, great-grandson, Harrison Thomas Swihart, her daughter-in-law, Dannet Swihart, her five brothers, Marcellus Wilcox, Eugene Wilcox, Marion Wilcox, Marvia Wilcox, and Joe Wilcox, and her sister, Maxine Schroll.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, August 31, 2017 at the Roann Christian Church with Rev. Robert Kirtlan officiating. Burial will be in Roann Community Cemetery. Friends may call Wednesday, 4 – 8 p.m. at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 335 South Chippewa Road, Roann and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Preferred memorial is the Christian Character Building program in the Wabash County School systems.