Virginia "Ruth" (Kinnaman) Pilarski

Virginia “Ruth” Pilarski, 84, of North Vernon, passed away a 10:09 a.m. on Friday, January 29, 2021, at her residence.

Born January 18, 1937, in Puxico, Missouri, she was the daughter of Albert and Bernice (Brown) Kinnaman. She married Raymond “Ray” Pilarski on June 29, 2002, at the Tea Creek Baptist Church in Jennings County; he survives.

Ruth graduated from Vernon High School in 1955. She worked claims for Farm Bureau Insurance in North Vernon for 25 years retiring in 1992. Ruth was a member of Tea Creek Baptist Church and Transplant Olympics for bowling in Utah, Ohio, and Georgia.  She received a heart transplant on February 11, 1991. She loved spending her winters in Fort Myers, Florida, working crossword puzzles, bowling, crafts, outings with “Go Girls” and Goodwill shopping. Ruth, above all, loved spreading goodwill to everyone she met.

Surviving with her husband, Raymond; are her daughters, Cheryl (David) Miller and Tonja ( John) Castetter, both of Butlerville, Carol (Jerry) Soutiere of Marathon, Florida; step-children, Donna (Tom) Thompson of Medora and Dan (Laura) Pilarski of Bloomington; sister, Betty Hill of Fishers; grandchildren, Autumn (Leighton Moore) Miller and Adrian Miller, both of Butlerville, Damian (Tiffany) Matern, Dale (Chelsey) Matern and Chelsie (Josh Cross) Castetter, all of North Vernon, Dustin Matern of Franklin, and Devin (Rie) Matern of Center Grove; twelve great-grandchildren; and many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Russell and Leon Kinnaman; sisters-in-law, Joy Kinnaman and Bonnie Kinnaman; brother in-law, Warren Hill; and granddaughter, Alison Castetter.

A private funeral service will be held for Ruth. Family and friends may call 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at the Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Service in North Vernon. Burial will be in the Vernon Cemetery.

Memorials may be made in honor of Ruth through the funeral home to Indiana Donor Network Threads of Compassion. 

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