ROCHESTER — Ruth Nellans Urbin, 90, Rochester and formerly of Kewanna, passed away at 2:24 a.m. Saturday, March 13, 2010, at Hickory Creek, Rochester.

The daughter of Guy and Bertha Barker Nellans, Ruth was born on May 10, 1919, at her parents’ farm home east of Olive Branch Church west of Fulton. On Jan. 4, 1938, in Syracuse, she married John W. Urbin of Kewanna and he preceded in death Nov. 26, 1994.

She was a 1937 Fulton High School graduate.

The Barkers and Nellans families were very musical and as a child at home they had Sunday night sing-alongs. Ruth loved music and she and her sister, Rachel even sang on WLS Radio in Chicago. She was still singing and playing the piano two weeks before her death.

She and her husband traveled the world on trips from Chevrolet and spent many years in LeHigh Acres, Fla. Her last trip to Florida was February through March 2009 to spend time with her daughter Jeanne Anne and Brian and the grandchildren who live in Naples. She enjoyed revisiting the things she saw years ago during her winters there.

Ruth loved the birds, flowers and gardening. She sewed for all her children and herself in the latest styles. She raised African violets under grow lights in her basement for years and was a member of two clubs in which the members traded slips to start a new plant. When she and John built an in-ground pool in 1963, the grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and sometimes all the neighborhood children enjoyed endless hours of fun and especially when she served her famous chocolate malts from her homemade chocolate syrup. She also enjoyed bowling with her husband in Winamac and Rochester. Her favorite pastime in her later years were all the grandbabies that came into her life.

She was a member of Kewanna United Methodist Church, where she was formerly also a choir member, a member and former president of WSCS, a member of Eastern Star of Kewanna and a member of Kewanna Mothers Club.

Surviving are her children Janet Burkett and her husband, Jerry, Rochester, Jill Leazenby, Carmel, Jack Urbin and his wife, Jean, Kewanna, Joy Troutman and her husband, Thomas, Rochester; son-in-law, Brian Markle, Naples, Fla.; sister-in-law, Martha Ann Cook, Kewanna; and 13 grandchildren, Jeralyn and Steve Hines, Rochester, Jay and Robin Burkett, Chicago, Paige and Jim Simpson, Naples, Fla., Patrick and Mirela Markle, Charlotte, N.C., Jeremy and Nicole Markle, Louisville, Ky., David and Erica Leazenby, Carmel, Amanda and Chad Kaluza, Carmel, Damon Leazenby, Noblesville, April and Ben Donahue, Honolulu, Adam Troutman, Columbus, Ohio, Alissa Troutman, Naples, Fla., Abby and Gary Rom, Valparaiso, and Jessica and Jeremy Rentschler, Fulton. Also surviving are 15 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter, Jeanne Anne Markle on May 26, 2009; a brother, Carl Nellans; and sister, Rachel Rentschler.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Kewanna United Methodist Church, at the corner of Pearl and Toner Streets with the Rev. Steven McPeek officiating. Burial will be in Citizens IOOF Cemetery, Kewanna.

Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Harrison-Metzger & Rans Funeral Home, 123 E. Main St., Kewanna, and also one hour prior to the time of service at the church.

The family requests memorial contributions be made to Kewanna United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 398, Kewanna, IN. 46939

Online condolences may be made to the Urbin family at www.harrisonmetzger.com.