Obituary for Ruth Ellen Parkhurst (Skaggs)
Ruth Ellen (Skaggs) Parkhurst, 73 of Franklin, passed away on April 19, 2019 at her home. She was born near Providence, IN on January 11, 1946 to parents Mamie (Hatfield) Skaggs and Earl Elgin Skaggs. Mamie was widowed and later married Clayton “Red” Mathena.
Ruth, as a child, attended Union School through 8 grade and graduated from Center Grove High School in 1964. She was a member of the first Center Grove Girls Basketball team and was an avid softball player while in high school. She was married 30 years to Arnold Parkhurst and was the mother of Scott Alan Parkhurst and Mariah Lee Parkhurst (Hinderliter). She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star at Union Village Lodge in Providence. She was a cook and then head cook for many years at West Grove Elementary. She also had a side job at The Willard. It is jokingly said that she must have fed half of Johnson County, Indiana at one point and time, with all the different friends her children would bring home to Sunday dinner from high school and Franklin College. She was known for her fabulous cooking, especially her fried chicken. She always had enough for others. She was known to many just as “Mom”. Her favorite pastimes included working in her flower garden, bird watching and being a loving, devoted grandmother.
She is survived by her children Scott Parkhurst (Laura) of Franklin, IN, Mariah Hinderliter (Chad) of Shelbyville, IN; five grandchildren, Lucas, Madisen and Morgan Hinderliter, and Daniel and Audrey Parkhurst; her sister Lillian Rogers (Gene) of Waterloo, IN, and brothers Bobby Skaggs (Nancy) of Tennessee, Leroy Skaggs (Rosie) of Whiteland, IN, and Rusty Skaggs (Brenda) of Bargersville, IN.
She was preceded in death by her parents Earl Elgin and Mamie Skaggs; stepfather Clayton “Red” Mathena; brothers James (Patt) Skaggs, William Houston Skaggs (Margret), Charles Skaggs (Ann); and a sister Thelma Mae Skaggs Beadle.
Pastor David Stephenson will conduct a service on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at 1PM at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN, where friends may call from 11AM on Tuesday till service time at the mortuary. Burial will be in Harris Cemetery in Union Township, Johnson County, IN. Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Johnson County, 3827 North Graham Road, Franklin, IN, 46131 or at www.hsjc.org. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com. Information at 317-738-0202.
Ruth, as a child, attended Union School through 8 grade and graduated from Center Grove High School in 1964. She was a member of the first Center Grove Girls Basketball team and was an avid softball player while in high school. She was married 30 years to Arnold Parkhurst and was the mother of Scott Alan Parkhurst and Mariah Lee Parkhurst (Hinderliter). She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star at Union Village Lodge in Providence. She was a cook and then head cook for many years at West Grove Elementary. She also had a side job at The Willard. It is jokingly said that she must have fed half of Johnson County, Indiana at one point and time, with all the different friends her children would bring home to Sunday dinner from high school and Franklin College. She was known for her fabulous cooking, especially her fried chicken. She always had enough for others. She was known to many just as “Mom”. Her favorite pastimes included working in her flower garden, bird watching and being a loving, devoted grandmother.
She is survived by her children Scott Parkhurst (Laura) of Franklin, IN, Mariah Hinderliter (Chad) of Shelbyville, IN; five grandchildren, Lucas, Madisen and Morgan Hinderliter, and Daniel and Audrey Parkhurst; her sister Lillian Rogers (Gene) of Waterloo, IN, and brothers Bobby Skaggs (Nancy) of Tennessee, Leroy Skaggs (Rosie) of Whiteland, IN, and Rusty Skaggs (Brenda) of Bargersville, IN.
She was preceded in death by her parents Earl Elgin and Mamie Skaggs; stepfather Clayton “Red” Mathena; brothers James (Patt) Skaggs, William Houston Skaggs (Margret), Charles Skaggs (Ann); and a sister Thelma Mae Skaggs Beadle.
Pastor David Stephenson will conduct a service on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at 1PM at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN, where friends may call from 11AM on Tuesday till service time at the mortuary. Burial will be in Harris Cemetery in Union Township, Johnson County, IN. Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Johnson County, 3827 North Graham Road, Franklin, IN, 46131 or at www.hsjc.org. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com. Information at 317-738-0202.