Ellen Ruth Smith, of Warsaw, passed away at 6:50 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, at the age of 86.

She was born on March 15, 1936, in Moffett, Okla., to Nelly (Fox) Perceful and Isaac Perceful. At the young age of 16, she knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Buddy L. Smith, and she married him on Feb. 21, 1952. They were blessed with three sons and enjoyed becoming grandparents multiple times over the 53 years of marriage they shared before Buddy passed away on March 7, 2005. 

Ellen grew up in Oklahoma and graduated from Moffett High School. After she married Buddy in 1952 they moved to Warsaw, and she has spent the last 70 years here in Kosciusko County. For a number of years she worked at Playtime in Warsaw then worked as a waitress prior to owning and operating Ellen’s Lunch Room in Leesburg, Indiana until she retired. Ellen never knew a stranger, and her friendly voice and smile greeted so many people over the years as they enjoyed eating at her restaurant. Ellen loved to volunteer her time at Our Father’s House in Warsaw for many years as well. She simply had a huge heart and it was in her nature to be a giving and loving person, especially to her family and grandchildren.  Ellen was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will be dearly missed by her family and many friends. 

She will be lovingly remembered by her three sons, Mike (Brenda) Smith (Warsaw,); Terry (Jo Ellen) Smith (Warsaw,); Bret (Jody) Smith (Warsaw,); eight grandchildren, Lance, Brian, Ty, Josh, Jeremy, Bailey, Thomas and Rebecca Terisa; seven great-grandchildren; and her daughter-in-law, Joyce E. Smith (Hedgesville, West Virginia). She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Buddy.           

Ellen’s life will be celebrated with a service at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana and officiated by Envoy Ken Locke of the Salvation Army.  A graveside service will follow at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw. Friends and family may visit prior to the service from 9-11 a.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be directed to Our Father’s House, 2114 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw, IN 46580; or to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, IN 46580, to go towards funeral expenses.”

Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.