Ruth Cantley, 97, of LaPorte, died peacefully at 1:55 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, at Miller’s Merry Manor at IU Health LaPorte Hospital, surrounded by her family.
She was born Jan. 13, 1917, in Francesville, IN, to Joseph and Flora Koebcke.
Ruth led a very active life as a mother and Avon distributor and later as a Dairy Queen owner/operator. After retiring in 1972, she and her husband traveled extensively throughout the United States, spending many winters at their home in Mesa, Arizona. Ruth and Homer played golf nearly year round and played over 100 different courses in their travels. They were proud of the fact that they had both achieved a hole in one. She was also a talented artist, with many oil paintings to pass down. Ruth was very family oriented, a loving mother and immensely enjoyed the presence and time she spent with all of her grandchildren. She was a tremendous influence on her family and will be missed beyond words.
On Dec. 14, 1968, in Indianapolis at Fort Harrison, Ruth married Homer Cantley, who survives.
She is also survived by her two children, James B. (Julie) Antrim and stepdaughter Barbara (Wally) Hartman; two sisters, Marie (Bill) Kneble and Sylvia (Harold) Dodge; two brothers, Sam (Rachel) and Willard Koebcke; eight grandchildren, Trudy (Brian) Menke, James R. (Cindy) Antrim, Collette Strickland, Tammy (Bruce) Webber, Kirk (Kristen) Hartman, Marye-Therese Whitla, Robert Cantley, and Steven Cantley; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents; first husband of 25 years, James B. Antrim; four brothers, Clarence, Russell, Joseph and Daniel; one sister, Clara; and her stepson, Roger Cantley.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at Oak Woods Manor, LaPorte, with Pastor John Marron officiating. Visitation will be Saturday from 1 p.m. until the service at Oak Woods Manor. Lakeview Funeral Home and Crematory, LaPorte, is handling arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to First Christian Church of Rolling Prairie, P.O. Box 8, Rolling Prairie, IN 46371.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com.