Ruth L. Yocum was promoted to her new home in Heaven on June 26, 2025 at the age of 95.  Ruth was born March 21, 1930 in South Bend, IN to the late Russell and Opal (Strahle) Handley. She graduated in 1949 from Central High School in South Bend. After working for several years in the South Bend area, Ruth met her husband Marvin in an unusual way.  He won a free lesson at a local dance studio in South Bend, and when he went to the studio, the instructor asked Ruth, one of his trainers, to be Marvin's partner for the lesson.  Though the dance instructor thought Marvin showed great promise, and should sign up for a bunch of lessons, he decided to forgo more lessons, but keep his partner. On November 12, 1955, Ruth married Marvin W. Yocum, who preceded her in death on April 7, 2020.

Ruth had her first child a year after getting married, and three more children followed fairly quickly.  She was a devoted mother and wife who loved taking her kids to the beach, roller skating, and church.  As she and Marvin got into real estate rentals, she became the co-manager and chief housekeeper for their apartment building.  When grandchildren arrived, she became very active in their lives, and they loved going for breakfast with Grandma.

She is survived by her son Mike (Carrie) Yocum, daughter Carol (Ron) Gradeless, son Tim (Cindy) Yocum, and her daughter Lisa (Rich) Burkhart. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren; Melissa McPhilamy, Kelly Raber, Emily Livengood, Sarah Weaver, Matt Gradeless, Dan Yocum, Kristin Elsner, Tom Burkhart, Aaron Burkhart, Rachel Burkhart, Abigail Burkhart, and Katherine Yocum; 18 great-grandchildren, sister Linda Colson of Michigan; brother, Robert Handley of Granger, IN; and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.   She was also preceded in death by brothers, Robert Ahnemiller and Elmer Handley; and sisters, Helen Alexander, Betty Walkden, Doris Worthy, Pat Taylor, and Ella Smorse.

A gathering will be held at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 10776 McKinley Hwy., Osceola, IN on July 3, 2025, 30 minutes prior to the funeral at 12:00pm

Memorials to Grace College and Seminary or Lakeland Christian Academy in Winona Lake, Indiana.

To leave a message for the family, please go to ChapelHillMemorial.com