Ruby H. (Thompson) Gunkel

Ruby was a beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and Great-Great Grandmother and devoted catholic.  Her faith and family were the most important in her life.
  
She was born August 24, 1935, in Springfield Kentucky to Daniel Irvine and Mary Fay (Montgomery) Thompson.   She had 5 siblings, Daniel Irvine Jr, Martha Francis (Sancie) Dunlap, Marguerite Fay (passed at 4 yrs. old), Joseph Albert, and Anne Marie Ryan.

Ruby was two when they left Springfield, KY and moved to Ft Wayne.  She attended Central Catholic High School where she met the love of her life Marvin Joseph (aka Marvin John).  Marvin was struggling in school and was placed behind Ruby who helped him with his studies.  They became friends and later a couple.   They were married September 12, 1953, St Mary’s in Ft Wayne.   They themselves built their first home (from the ground up) together on Hadley Road, where they raised their children.  They had their first child in August 1954 and by the time Ruby was 25 and Marvin 26 they had six children.  They attended St Joseph Catholic Church where all of their children attended grade school.
     
Ruby began working at IPFW when her youngest child started Kindergarten.  She retired from the copy center after 25 years of service.
  
Ruby and Marvin enjoyed having their children and families over for Sunday breakfast after mass every Sunday.   They also loved spending time at Barbee Lake with their family enjoying family meals, campfires, boating volleyball and Sunday Mass.   They enjoyed camping and fishing with their children and grandchildren in Loogootee, Indiana.  They enjoyed traveling and spending their winters in Arizona in the 5thwheel camper.   
Marvin and Ruby along with their six children helped build their Dream retirement home on O’Day Rd.   They were very active members of St Patrick’s Church in Arcola.   After Marvin passed away Ruby continued to grow in her faith, by going on pilgrimages to Rome, Italy, the Holy Land and a six-week trip to India ministering to children and the elderly in Mother Teresa’s hometown with her granddaughter. 
  
Marvin preceded Ruby in death in 2005 and they were reunited on August 9, 2022.   They have left a legacy of a large family behind of 6 children, 25 Grandchildren, 47 Great Grandchildren, 9 Great- Great Grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am, Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 12305 Arcola Rd. Arcola, with calling one hour prior. Visitation also Monday, August 15, 2022, 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave., Fort Wayne, with a Rosary recited at 3:30 pm.  Entombment will be in Catholic Cemetery Fort Wayne.

  
Memorials to Right to Life of Northeast Indiana, Women’s Care Center or Masses for Ruby.