Ruth Joan Church

Ruth Joan Church, 82, of Lafayette, died at 9:34 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, at Mulberry Health and Retirement Community.
Born Dec. 28, 1927, in Lake County, she was the daughter of the late Gordon A. and Erma Tullis Graper. She graduated from Crown Point High School and Indiana University.
On Aug. 27, 1949, she married Paul Church Jr. in Crown Point, and he preceded her in death on March 9, 2007.
Mrs. Church worked at the Miami County Bureau of Motor Vehicles for 10 years, retiring as manager in 1989.
She was a member of Tri Kappa and United Methodist Women, and was vice chairman of the Republican Party in Miami County. She and her husband were founding members of the Grissom Heritage Museum, and she had twice received the Sagamore of the Wabash award.
She enjoyed traveling, gardening and reading.
Surviving are her children, Paula Watkins of Lafayette, Timothy Church (wife: Cathi) of Rolling Prairie and Karen Church of West Lafayette; a brother, Gordon E. Graper (wife: Delores) of Crown Point; and a sister, Iris Jean Paarlberg of Kouts.
Also surviving are 4 grandchildren, Christopher Church, Melissa Jack (husband: Peter), Zebulon Watkins and Noah Watkins. She was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Graper; a sister, Doris Rupprecht; and a granddaughter, Jennifer Church.
There will be no services. The family chose to donate her brain to Harvard Brain Bank for future research. Those wishing may contribute to the Alzheimer?s research or charity of choice.