Ruth L. "Babe" Kilby

Ruth L. "Babe" Kilby passed away at 11:40 p.m. Sunday, March 18, 2018 at The Hearth of Sycamore, Fort Wayne. Her friends all knew her by her nickname, Babe. Before she was born her 8 brother and sisters wanted another baby boy sibling to round out the Nelson family sandlot baseball team. Babe was born on December 29, 1921 and was the 10th child born to Frank and Louise Nelson at Yorktown, IN. She graduated from Yorktown High School in May with the Class of 1939.

She dated her future husband, Roy Kilby, 5 years and they were married March 14, 1943 in Yorktown. After WWII Roy completed his teaching credentials at Indiana University, Bloomington and they moved to Columbia City in the summer if 1947. Tragically they lost their young son Michael Roy Kilby on May 10, 1947. Babe worked at the Woolen Mills in Columbia City, but most of her time was spent as a caring mother and housewife. In the early 1950's Mary Schellenbarger and Babe organized a women's golf league at Crooked Lake Golf Course. She bowled in the women's bowling league at Cook Lanes and played in the women's city softball team sponsored by Earl Fisher. She was an alumna of Delta Theta Tau Sorority and a member of the Columbia City United Methodist Church. She and Roy enjoyed 33 years spending their winters in Arizona.

In the early 1960's Tam Vogel started Meals on Wheels for "shut ins" and Babe helped deliver meals to folks for several years. She was a gray lady in the 1960's testing kids for scoliosis as well as testing elementary school children's eyes.
Babe and Roy adopted two children who survive with their families, Ric and Kathy Kilby and Debbe and David Lambert. Grandsons, Jack (Angelia) Kilby, Jason and Josh (Shalisa) Lambert, 8 great grandchildren, Jack R. Kilby III, Jade and Ethan Lambert, step grandchildren, Joe (Mindy) Sloop,. James (Jackie) Sloop, and step great grandchildren, Celsey, Andrew, Jared, Jacob and Jenna Sloop. Babe is preceded in death by her parents, all 9 siblings, husband Roy and son, Michael Roy.

A private family visitation and funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 22, 2018 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Burial will follow at Elm Ridge Memorial Park, Muncie, IN. Memorial gifts may be given in memory of Babe to Heartland Hospice or Roy Kilby Field of Interest Fund payable to the Community Foundation of Whitley County.