Betty Ruth Stroud, 88, of Marengo, Indiana passed away on Friday, March 23, 2018 at the home of her daughter in Jeffersonville. Betty was born on December 23, 1929 in Marengo, to the late George E. and Donella Taylor Catt. While their mother worked in Indianapolis, during the depression, Betty and her brother, Bill resided with their grandparents, John and Lizzie Taylor on the family farm. Betty was married to Owen E. Stroud on December 31, 1947. They raised their family in Marengo, sharing 46 years of marriage before Owen’s passing in 1994.
Besides her parents and her husband, Betty was preceded in death by her brother, William E. Catt of Denver, Colorado; a daughter-in-law, Sue Broughton Stroud; a grandson, Terry Lynn Stroud; and many aunts and uncles who were like sisters and brothers to her.
Betty is survived by her seven children, Terry Stroud (Alice) of Milltown, Mickey Stroud (Cindy) of Marengo, Lynn Stroud (Eve Ann) of New Albany, Donna Ferguson (J. Myron) of Jeffersonville, Steve Stroud (Candi) of New Albany, Jana Campbell of New Albany and Gregory Stroud of Marengo; 17 grandchildren: Michelle Oppel, Jeremy Stroud (Candie), Neil Stroud (Bobbi), Shana Totten (Joe), Teia Young (Neal), Cody Stroud (Lisa), Miles Ford, Landon Ford, Matt Ferguson (Corinne), Erin Ferguson, Kyle Ferguson (Erin), Joey Ferguson, Christopher Stroud, Jasmin Owens (Randy), Kaci Hentrup (PJ), Jonathan Ruppe, and Jared Bowman and 18 great-grandchildren.
Betty shared a close bond as well with her sister-in-law, Muriel Catt and nieces Heather Catt and Sheryl Torres (Larry) and Sierra, all from near Denver and her many cousins, nephews and nieces on both sides of the Taylor and Stroud families.
Upon her graduation from high school, Betty worked in her mother and uncle’s restaurant in Indianapolis. As her children were raised and graduated, she worked some miscellaneous jobs in the local community for the pleasure of being around others, but when describing her occupation, Betty defined her position as a “homemaker” in the industry of “mother.” A job she cherished, the one that fulfilled her life and made her most proud!
As a faithful follower of Christ, Betty held many positions in the Marengo United Methodist Church where she was a member, from singing in the choir, to committee chair roles to Sunday School and Bible School teacher to leadership in the United Methodist Women’s Group. She was a member of the Walk to Emmaus movement and traveled to Israel, where she walked the streets her Savior walked and was re-baptized in the Jordan River. A dream she still talked about in her final days on Earth.
In addition to volunteering, where needed for local events, Betty served on the Marengo High School Alumni Association, on fund raising committees for the WHAS Crusade for Children and chaired the local Chapter of the National Association for Retarded Citizens.
A Celebration of Life service will be held for Betty at the Marengo United Methodist Church, Marengo, Indiana at 1:00 pm on Saturday, March 31, 2018 with visitation at the church from 3:30 pm-8:30 pm on Friday, March 30th and from 9:00 am on Saturday until the time of the service. Interment will follow at the Marengo Cemetery.
The family requests donations in honor of Betty’s life be made to her church or to Down Syndrome of Louisville, Inc. a non-profit organization serving the needs of persons with Down Syndrome and their families in Louisville and Southern Indiana.
https://downsyndromeoflouisvilleorg.presencehost.net/get-involved/donate.html
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