This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/VJIBAEB/28234 Message Board Post: Ruth Roslea (Smith) Odiet Aug. 18, 1926 – April 20, 2006 A celebration for the life of Ruth Roslea (Smith) Odiet will be held at 6 p.m. Monday in First Presbyterian Church of Kokomo, where she was a member for nearly 40 years. An informal reception with family members will precede the service at 4 p.m. in the church’s fellowship hall. Ruth, who was 79, died of cancer at 11:49 a.m. Thursday, April 20, 2006, in her home. She was born Aug. 18, 1926, at the home of her maternal grandparents, James Garfield and Lottie (McCord) Dustin, on a cattle ranch near Towanda, Kan., the only daughter of Ora Dillon “Bill” and Vivian Eleanor (Dustin) Smith. Bill was a widower who had a son, the late Howard Anthony Smith, by his first marriage. Ruth began work while in high school at Memphis, Tenn., during World War II as a long-distance operator. She continued in various capacities with the Bell System at Monett, Mo., and later in Kokomo, for 20 years. In 1965, she began part-time employment for the Howard County auditor. She retired in December 1991 as chief deputy auditor. She was married to Fred C. Odiet at Main Street Methodist Church on Nov. 15, 1958. He survives with their children and spouses, Fred M. and Audrey Odiet of Tomah, Wis., Conni Cozad, David and Laura Johnson, all of the Kokomo area; 10 grandchildren, Shannon Michael Odiet, Jamison Joseph Odiet, Sarah Jane Wilson, Wendy Jo Ann Jones, Abigail Marie Odiet, Christopher Michael Cozad, Cathrine Elizabeth Cozad, Arek David Johnson, Kurtis Dustin Johnson and Ryan Matthew Odiet Johnson; and three great-grandchildren, Emma Louise Odiet, Mikaela Brynn Jones and Taylor Jane Freeland. Ellers Mortuary is assisting with the celebration, which will be led by the Rev. Jerry Van Auken, senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. William Emrich, former interim pastor and now chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society for research.