Ruth Ann Dick

Ruth Ann Horn Dick was born in Logansport, Indiana on September 23, 1949 to Doris C. and Anthony M. Horn. The family remained in Logansport during her early childhood before moving to Indianapolis, where she attended Arlington High School. Her freshmen year, she met Marsha Szalay, and started a friendship that lasted nearly six decades.

Ruth Ann lost her father at 17, a tragedy she managed to overcome in spite of the challenges of caring for her mother and attending Butler University through a work /study program. She first earned her B.A. in Business Administration, as well as a teaching certificate, before entering grad school. While earning her Masters of Education, Ruth Ann taught business, typing, and shorthand at Lawrence Central High School.

It was in one her typing classes that she met her future husband, Andrew Dick. The two started dating after Andrew graduated from high school. Ruth Ann left Lawrence Central to teach in the College of Education at Butler, where Andrew had enrolled for premed, and after several years of courtship, they were married in 1978.

She continued to work at Butler while Andrew was in medical school. In 1979, they welcomed their first son, Anthony George, into the family, who was followed in 1985 by their second son, Daniel Thomas. Ruth Ann took up the new challenge of supervising student teachers, helping to hone their classroom skills. After a number of years, her mother became ill and Ruth Ann elected to leave Butler to care for her mother and children.

Ruth Ann threw herself into the boys’ activities – school, sports, and scouts – quickly becoming a surrogate mom to many of their friends, as well as an energetic fixture of community. However, she was not content to only be a mother and housewife, and soon started a Mary Kay business. Ruth Ann’s good taste and hospitality were enjoyed by many, and whatever the job or responsibility was, she enjoyed meeting and helping people.

Over the years, Ruth Ann continued to be a voracious reader, usually finishing a book each week. Her mastery of crossword puzzles was epitomized by her choice to use permanent pens over pencils, and her victories in scrabble are too numerous to recount. Andrew and Ruth Ann had the opportunity to travel widely across the United States, as well as abroad; they spent weeks in Greece and Kenya, Africa.

When not attending her sons’ sporting events, she and Andrew could be seen – in their Butler gear – rooting for the Bulldogs at Hinkle Fieldhouse, where they were longtime season ticket holders. During the offseason, Ruth Ann and Andrew were season tickets holders for the Indiana Repertory Theater and the Indianapolis Symphony, and spent their summer Saturdays at Symphony on the Prairie.

Shortly before Covid, Ruth Ann began showing signs of dementia. She did not want her condition to be widely known, which we honored. The pandemic accelerated her deterioration, but she never forgot people, and had she seen you, she would have recognized you and smiled.

She is survived by her husband, Andrew, and her sons, Anthony and Daniel.

Her remembrance has been planned for Saturday, September 3rd at Crown Hill. This reception-style event will be held in the funeral home’s Celebration Hall between 1-5pm, and is open to all. For more information, or to send your condolences, please visit her page on the Crown Hill website.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.crownhill.org for the Dick family.