Emma Ruth Luker

There is no doubt that she is an angel singing in heaven as she is known as the "lady that sings" to the staff, residents and their families at River Pointe Health Campus. Besides her favorite hymns she is notorious for singing the IU Fight Song at unexpected and not always appropriate times. She loved God, her church, her family and friends and all the woodland creatures she fed from her front door. She enjoyed the wildflowers that grew in the woods around her home and always the beautiful daffodils that her husband planted in straight rows with exact spacing. She would always praise God for the beauty of His natural world. She loved family dinners, making Springerles every Christmas to keep the family tradition going and attending sporting and musical events to watch her children and grandchildren. She was a front row Purple Aces fan at Roberts Stadium never missing a home game.

Emma Ruth was baptized and confirmed at Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in downtown Evansville. She was a proud 1944 graduate of Central High School. Ruth married Louis Luker on November 30, 1945. When she and Louie built their wonderful home in the woods in 1980, they became members of Salem Church of Darmstadt. She was an active member of the Salem Senior Group and the Women's Guild. She continued to help where she could with the Salem Chicken Dinners by wrapping utensils in napkins until recent years.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Louis "Louie", daughter Patricia Claybaugh, siblings Mary Louise and Daniel Pauli, and parents Hilda (Bernhardt) and David Pauli.

She is survived by children Deborah Balsdon (Bruce) and Mark Luker (Dianna) both of Evansville and Michael Luker (Michelle) of Tampa, FL. and son-in-law Lloyd Claybaugh of Evansville. Grandchildren are Lisa Jackson (John), Lori Feil (Eric), Greg Balsdon (Adriana Brodsky), Jennifer Claybaugh, Brooke Benkert (Daniel), Katie Luker and Andrew Luker. Great grandchildren are Joshua, Chloe and Jacob Feil, Celeste and Elias Wilson, Ryder Benkert, Morgan and Sydney Jackson, David and Leah Zahniser. She also leaves behind many wonderful nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Salem Church of Darmstadt, officiated by Rev. David Peterson, with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Friends and family may visit from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 7, 2025 at Alexander North Chapel and from 10:00 a.m. until service time at church on Saturday.

Ruth's family would like to thank the staff at River Pointe Health Campus and St. Croix Hospice for their loving personal care.

She will be loved and remembered as a kind and grateful soul.

Memorial contributions may be made to Salem Church of Darmstadt.

Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderNorthChapel.com.