Ruth L. Stauffer Metzger , 92, of Columbia City, died peacefully in the company of family at 7:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at her home.

Born on August 19, 1930, in Allen County, Indiana, she was a daughter of the late Edward H. and Freida (Melcher) Thiele. Growing up on a small farm during the Depression, she learned to be independent, hardworking, and appreciative. As German was spoken at home, she learned to speak it at an early age, but it faded away in adulthood. At age 10, she was able to join 4-H, where she learned valuable skills, both vocationally and socially, that would carry through her life. She graduated from Elmhurst High School in 1948.

On June 17, 1950, she married George D. Stauffer, embarking on a 38-year journey raising three children. They made their first home in Grabill, then Angola. In 1959, the family moved to Columbia City. George died on December 16, 1988. On August 18, 1991, she married Loren R. Metzger, making their home on a farm in rural South Whitley and wintering in Punta Gorda, Florida. Loren died on February 5, 2016, in Punta Gorda.

In 1970 she joined the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Whitley County Office. She retired in 1991 as the Assistant County Supervisor.

An over 50-year member of the Grace Lutheran Church, she was active in the Church Choir, social committees, Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches of America (ELCA), and had served on the Indiana-Kentucky Women's Synod Board. In her younger years, she was a Girl Scout Leader. In her senior years, she worked on recording the family history and continued to split her time between Columbia City and Punta Gorda, Florida.

Surviving are her children, Dianne M. Stangland and Dana R. (Marcia) Stauffer, both of Columbia City, four grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; siblings, Richard Thiele of Austin IN, Edward Thiele of Ossian, Martha (Norv) Bauermeister of Ossian, Kenneth (Cindy) Thiele of Alexandria, MN Mary Bearman of Fort Wayne, and Donald (Vicky) Thiele of Fort Wayne.

Additionally, she was preceded in death by a son, David Stauffer; a sister, Norma Schaefer; and a brother, Karl Thiele.

The funeral service is 10 a.m. Monday at the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 204 N Main St, Columbia City. Burial is at the St Mark Lutheran Church Cemetery near Yoder. Visitation is from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City, and 1 hour before the service at church on Monday.

Memorials in Ruth's honor are to Heifer International or Grace Lutheran Church.