Ruth E. Cromer, age 94 of Salem, Indiana passed away Tuesday, January 18, 2022.
Born July 23, 1927, in Salem, Indiana, she was the daughter of the late Charles E. and Esther (Thompson) Lyles and Mabel (Altemeyer) Lyles.
Ruth was a life-long resident of Washington County, she graduated Salem High School in 1945 and was a retired employee of the old B.F. Goodrich Company in Salem.
She was a member of the Crossroads Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school for 20 years. She was also a member of the Salem American Legion and Salem V.F.W. Auxiliaries.
April 16, 1947, Ruth married Harold E. “Ike” Cromer, who passed away October 27th, 1997.
She was preceded in death by 1 son, Ken Cromer, infant sister, Telitha Gay Lyles, and son-in-law David Reynolds.
Survivors include Son: Morris D. Cromer (Sharon) of Avon, Indiana; Daughter: Marlene Reynolds (fiancé Chic Schleman) of Remington, Indiana; Sisters: Rosalyn Spurgeon of Salem, Indiana and Peggy Weaver of Michigan Town, Indiana; Brother: Robert Lyles (Margaret) of Salem, Indiana; Grandchildren: Lance Cromer, Sharalynn Campbell (Sean), Seth Cromer, Ryan Cromer (Julie), KLynn Reynolds (Dwight), Amber Williamson (Ramon);
Great-Grandchildren: Riane Freie, Lily Cromer, Evey Cromer, Isla Cromer, Silas Cromer, Ruthie Cromer, Charlie Cromer, Josephine Spencer, Emmett Williamson.
Visitation: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Saturday January 22, 2022, at Dawalt Funeral Home
Funeral Service: 1:00 PM Saturday January 22, 2022, at Dawalt Funeral Home, followed by interment in Winslow Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to:
Washington County Relay for Life
c/o Jeanette Nolan
945 North Rush Creek Rd.
Salem, Indiana 47167
How does one sum up 94 years in a few paragraphs? The answer: you can’t, but you do your best, pulling on the memories, anecdotes, and crazy tales of those who loved Ruth aka Granny the most. Anyone who was close to Ruth knew that she could put a smile on your face simply by entering the room. With an infectious laugh, brilliant smile, and sense of adventure nothing slowed Ruth down.
While she could often be found in her recliner at home, clad in a pink nightgown & slippers, working her crossword puzzle with a well of knowledge that could rival Google itself, she was just as comfortable on the back of her four-wheeler collecting wood for the fireplace, or driving a tractor during hay baling season.
Tales have been told of Ruth’s legendary ability to park a boat on a trailer without breaking a sweat at her family’s vacation home on Nolin Lake. Despite her obvious skill behind the wheel of a boat, Ruth was not a strong swimmer.
In 2005 at 78 years old, during a destination wedding to Central America, her family all held on tight to Ruth’s inner tube as they went cave river tubing in Guatemala, nothing ever stopped Ruth’s sense of adventure.
Ruth’s greatest passion was her family. She cherished every holiday, vacation, birthday, and reunion that she was able to be surrounded by those she loved.
At family events, she could be seen silently observing
