Ruben “R.B.” Conley, a longtime resident of Etna Green, and recent resident of Warsaw, passed away at 9:37 p.m. on Oct. 14, 2023, at St. Francis Hospital in Columbus, Ga., at the age of 80 with his family by his side.
He was born into a very large family on July 30, 1943, in Carey, Ohio, to Lana Frances May Conley and Bertie Bliss Conley. R.B. was a lifetime resident of Etna Green, where he was a 1962 graduate of Etna Green High School. On June 26, 1963, he married Peggy L. Dawalt, and they were blessed with 60 years of marriage before R.B. passed away.
R.B. enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and proudly served from 1963 in civil engineering until his honorable discharge in 1967. He was a hard-working man his entire life and worked for NIPSCO as a mechanical equipment operator retiring after 33 years. Throughout his life he was always active in his Etna Green community, where he was instrumental in starting the baseball youth league, was a member of the town council, member of the 4th of July committee and was the 2023 grand marshal in the 4th of July parade. R.B. organized the Etna Green Memorial Day service for 20 years, was a member of the Bourbon American Legion Post #424 for 51 years and was on the board of the Bell Museum in Mentone. He loved his role as a grandfather, and enjoyed cheering his granddaughters at many volleyball games and watching his grandsons play baseball and hockey. Most of all he was a wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to many. R.B. will be dearly missed by those that loved him.
He leaves behind his wife, Peggy Lou Conley, Warsaw; son, Tim (Helen) Conley, Etna Green; and two daughters, Carmen (Ernesto) Flores, Winona Lake; Beth (Don) Conley Eppenbaugh, Columbus, Ga. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren: Victoria (Andres) Lopez, Veronica (Erik) Flores, Andrew Eppenbaugh, Ryan Eppenbaugh, Branda (James) Jennings, Hannah (Derrick) Gidley, Haleigh (Adam) Strickler, Kaitlyn Binegar, Jennifer (Steve) Kelly, Stephanie Webster; 13 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; three brothers: John (Neva) Conley, Warsaw; Robert (Sue) Conley, Warsaw; Mark Conley, Oglethorpe, Ga.; and two sisters, Joan Conley, Washington; Deborah Conley, Warsaw; as well as many nieces and nephews, and special friends, Irv and Vicky Kaufman, Nappanee. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Greg Binegar; five brothers: Ernie, Herman, Roger, Dan and Ron; and two sisters, Geri Conley and Nita Cunningham.
Friends and family may visit from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw. R.B.’s life will be celebrated with a memorial service at 2 p.m. immediately following visitation at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home. With military rites conducted by members of the American Legion Post #424 of Bourbon and active-duty members of the Air Force Honor Guard. Burial will take place at a later date at Etna Green Cemetery in Etna Green.
Memorial donations may be directed to Southwester Blind Rehabilitation Center, 3601 S. 6th Ave., Bldg. 30, Tucson, AZ 85723-0002.
Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.