Ruth Ann (Ganote) Horstman

Ruth Ann Horstman, 88, of North Vernon, passed away at 4:53 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at her residence.

Born January 13, 1938, in Charlestown, she was the daughter of the late John C. and Ruth (Prather) Ganote. She married William Louis “Bill” Horstman on June 1, 1963, at the Charlestown Methodist Church; he preceded her in death on May 24, 2015.

Ruth Ann was a graduate and valedictorian of the 1956 class of Charlestown High School and 1961 graduate of Purdue University. Her first job was with Purdue as a county extension agent, which is the job that brought her to Jennings County.  She sold Tupperware and was the former Treasurer of Jennings County for several years and worked as the Deputy Treasurer of Jennings County from 1981 until 2008. Ruth Ann was a leader of the God Squad at First United Methodist Church where she was also a member, a member of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church in Charlestown, Hayden Homemakers, Psi Iota Xi Sorority, Republican Woman’s Club, IUMCH Auxiliary and Purdue Alumni Association. She enjoyed crocheting, cooking, volunteering, sewing, traveling with her family, cats, and spending time with her family.

Survivors include her son, Duane Horstman of Lebanon; her daughter, Denise Horstman of North Vernon; her sister, Carolyn (Ron) Karkos of Orlinda, Tennessee; and several nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; future son-in-law, Marty Littrell; brother and sister-in-law, J.L. and Juanita Ganote; sister and brother-in-law Mildred and Ersel Rogers. 

A funeral service for Ruth Ann will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Service in North Vernon with the service being officiated by her nephew, Jeffrey Ganote. The Visitation for family and friends will be on Thursday, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow in the Vernon Cemetery in Vernon.

Memorials in honor of Ruth Ann may be made through the funeral home to Mercy Rescue and Adoption Inc or Shalom House in Lebanon.

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