Ruth F. Goldstein

1925 - 2023

Ruth F. "Rikki" (Kutcher) Goldstein, 98, of Carmel and Fort Wayne, Ind., died December 7, 2023, She was born in Sioux City, Iowa on September 24, 1925. Rikki met Leonard, her husband of seventy-two years while in college; they married in October 1945 and moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana. In midlife, she graduated from Indiana University with a Master of Social Work. Rikki helped to found the Fort Women's Bureau where she worked for twenty years. She retired from her next job with the Fort Wayne Neighborhood Clinic at age 91.

Rikki's family and communities remember her as loving, caring, generous, smart and witty (with an occasional touch of sarcasm), who also invoked a startling capacity to adapt to, take advantage of, and help facilitate the dramatic changes in society's expectations of and opportunities for women.

Her years of service include serving on the boards of the Catholic Social Services, Visiting Nurse Association, Planned Parenthood of Fort Wayne, Temple Achduth Vesholom, Fort Wayne Ballet, Fort Wayne Education Foundation, Center for Non-Violence, Black and White Ball, and Fort Wayne Park Commissioners. She was the Chair of the Metropolitan Human Relations Commission, Governor Appointee to the Judicial Nominating Committee of Indiana, panelist for Panel of American Women, State Chair of Chair of Commission for Displaced Homemakers, Mayor's Commission on Rape, Sexual Harassment and Domestic Violence and several others. Among other awards, she received the Sagamore of the Wabash.

She is survived by her children Michael Goldstein, Steven Goldstein, Jan Goldstein, and Lisa Post; grandchildren, Ben, Jon, Amanda, Anya, Cort, Arlee, Zach, Kailee, Brittne, Brian and Jonathan; and several great-grandchildren. Graveside Service is 2:45 pm Monday, December 11, Lindenwood Cemetery, 2324 West Main Street, Fort Wayne. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at https://www.mccombandsons.com for the Goldstein family.