Name: Ruth Colby
Born Date – Obituary Date: October 26, 1920 – January 28, 2023
Age: 102
Location: Hennepin, Illinois
Profession: Worked at Elwood Ordinance, Green River Ordinance, Westclox, Harper Wyman
Family Details: Survived by daughter Rita Borri, son Ken Colby, sister Helen Henning, six grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren
Know about Ruth Colby
Ruth Delores Colby, 102 years young, passed away on January 28, 2023, at Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa, Illinois. Born on October 26, 1920, in Hennepin, Ruth lived a long and fulfilling life.
She graduated from Hennepin High School and went on to work at several notable companies, including Elwood Ordinance, Green River Ordinance, Westclox, and Harper Wyman, where she worked for nearly 30 years.
Ruth married John Colby and together they built a family and a life filled with love. She was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and was actively involved in the St. Patrick’s Altar & Rosary Society. Ruth was known for her warmth and kind-hearted nature, always meeting new people as a hostess at Econo Foods in Peru, Illinois.
| Details | Overview |
|---|---|
| Name | Ruth Delores Colby |
| Born Date – Obituary Date | October 26, 1920 – January 28, 2023 |
| Age | 102 |
| Location | Hennepin, Illinois |
| Profession | Worked at Elwood Ordinance, Green River Ordinance, Westclox, Harper Wyman |
| Family Details | Survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren |
Ruth Colby Family Details
Ruth is survived by her daughter, Rita Borri (Gary) of McNabb; her son, Ken Colby of Hennepin; her sister, Helen Henning of Heritage Health Care in Peru; six grandchildren: Jason, Josh, Mike, Joe, Christina, and Aimee; 18 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, John; her parents Paul Levi and Mary Eliza Smith; her sister Grace Henning; and a great-granddaughter, Jocelyn Colby.
Funeral Service Information
A Mass of Christian Burial for Ruth was held on February 3, 2023, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Hennepin. She was laid to rest in St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery. The family requested that donations in Ruth’s memory be made to St. Jude or the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation.
Ruth’s long and love-filled life left an indelible mark on her family and community. Her warmth, generosity, and service will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
