Ruth Ann (Colgin) Gigax

Ruth Ann Gigax, of Carmel, went home to her heavenly Father early in the morning on February 27, 2026. Ruth Ann was born to Rufus and Mildred Colgin in Tulsa, Oklahoma on October 16, 1933.

Known to her closest friends as Ruthie, Aunt Ruthie to her loving nieces and nephew, and Nannie, Grandma, and Nana to her grandchildren, Ruth Ann loved being around people—especially her church family and her own children and grandchildren. A talented pianist from an early age, Ruth Ann played by ear and throughout the decades served as accompanist. In the last couple years of life, Ruth Ann blessed her senior community resident neighbors with hymn medleys on the grand piano. She also loved an audience and enjoyed making people laugh.

In 1951, a coed at the University of Tulsa, Ruth Ann became a pen pal with a handsome young sailor named Dick. The rest was history: Early in 1952, Ruth Ann and Dick wed in Dana Point, California. In San Diego they welcomed their firstborn, later relocating to Tulsa, where the rest of their children were born. Eventually the family moved to Ruth Ann's beloved Carmel, which she considered to be "heaven on Earth."

In the late 1960s, Ruth Ann joined a newly formed congregation, Faith Missionary Church, at 61st & Carrollton, in Broad Ripple. Through the years of faithful attendance, service, and holiday gatherings, the other "Faith" families became family to Ruth Ann and her family. Ruth Ann supported multiple missionaries serving around the globe, through hospitality when they were home on furlough, correspondence to lift their spirits, and through generous financial giving.

After losing Dick suddenly in 1995, Ruth Ann courageously embraced life, traveling the Western Hemisphere, occasionally with friends and family, and frequently alone, on Ambassadair trips to South America, Europe, Canada, and the United States. Of these journeys, her favorite was the Denver Seminary-sponsored Travels of Paul. 

Ruth Ann loved books, babies, dogs, and kitties. Over the decades she was a faithful volunteer to people in need. In the last third of her life gardening brought her joy; she was known for the showy flowers in her front garden. She grew the bluest hydrangeas the size of your head, and vibrant hibiscus, but her backyard tomatoes took the prize. Though autumn was her favorite season and she never missed an October visit to Brown County, she soaked up summers for nightly swims and weekly visits to the Carmel Farmer's Market.

In addition to her own family and Faith community, Ruth Ann cherished her “Jazzy sisterhood” cultivated over 45 years of attending Jazzercise. It’s impossible to say which facet more effectively kept her vital and strong well into her eighties—the workouts or the fun friendships. In any case, those women were faithful friends to the very end. 

Ruth Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Richard C. Gigax, parents, Rufus and Mildred Colgin, and her sister, Patricia Bendelow, née Colgin.

Ruth Ann is survived by her four children-Craig (Melissa) Gigax of Fishers; Jim (Lisa) Gigax of Denver, Colorado; Missy (Tom) Welsch of St. Augustine, Florida; and Beth (Dan) Bates of Montrose, Colorado; nine grandchildren-Andy, John, Molly, Annie, Barnes, Margaret, Richard, Jack, and Grace; five great-grandchildren, Amélie, Townes, Millie, Lucy, and Thomas; and four nieces and a nephew, Sharon, Sue, Shiela, Andrew, and Sarah, and their children and grandchildren.

The family is grateful for the care and kindness shown by her friends and staff at the Barrington of Carmel, and sincerely thanks the exceptional care provided by Legacy Hospice.

Family and friends will gather at 10 am in Faith Church, 9125 N College Ave, Indianapolis, on Saturday, March 7, 2026, where the funeral service will begin at 11am.

A private family burial will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Wycliffe Bible Translators or Faith Church Indy are welcome.

Bussell Family Funerals is privileged to assist the family in arrangements.

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