Ruth Lorraine McClanahan lived many lives within one: daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. At every stage, she carried with her a quiet generosity, an enduring optimism, and a genuine delight in the people around her.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1929 to Annarose and George Strand, Ruth grew up in a world she often described as kinder and gentler. She loved recalling stories of riding streetcars, neighborhood friendships, and family life shaped by faith and tradition. Those memories stayed with her and later influenced the home she created for her own family.
One of Ruth’s earliest defining roles came when she became a big sister to Karen, a role she embraced with pride and affection. As her life unfolded, her roles multiplied—niece, cousin, college student, and sweetheart—before she became the wife of Roland “Mac” McClanahan, the partner with whom she would share nearly six decades of marriage.
Together, Ruth and Mac built a life centered on family, hospitality, and intention. Their home was a welcoming place where friends were quickly treated like family. Ruth had a remarkable gift for making people feel included, valued, and at ease.
Creativity flowed naturally through Ruth’s life. She expressed it in the crafts she made and generously shared, in the holidays she lovingly orchestrated, and in the traditions she both preserved and reinvented. Holiday tables were carefully set, often decorated with handmade place cards. Meals frequently gave way to evenings of laughter, card games, and dessert—Liverpool played for nickels, with good-natured competition and lasting memories.
Ruth was also a quiet visionary. She found the family home on Farmleigh Drive in Indianapolis and purchased it before Mac had even seen it, confident it was the right place for their children to grow up. Time proved her right, as the house became the backdrop for countless memories, friendships, and milestones.
As her children grew and added spouses to the family, Ruth welcomed each one with warmth and grace. Her family expanded again with the arrival of her grandchildren, John Paul “JP” Elcik V and Michelle Kathleen Elcik. As “Gramie,” Ruth delighted in shared adventures—family vacations, holiday traditions, and birthday celebrations that became treasured rituals.
Ruth embraced life fully. She loved travel, friendships, laughter, and fun. In later years, she readily adapted to new technologies, learning to use the computer and delighting friends and family with digital greeting cards, invitations, and messages that reflected her thoughtful nature.
Perhaps the greatest lesson Ruth shared was her belief in attitude. She believed each day offered a choice—to be positive, to find the bright side, and to be grateful. She lived that belief consistently, leaving behind not just memories, but a way of approaching life with joy and intention.
Ruth Lorraine McClanahan’s life was not defined by sorrow, but by celebration. Through friendship, family, faith, and laughter, she left a legacy that continues to shape the lives of those who knew and loved her.
Sources
- Family manuscripts and personal recollections preserved by the McClanahan and Elcik families
- Supporting biographical details corroborated through obituary records and genealogical sources