Kimberly (Ruse) Roberts

FISHERS - Kimberly Sue (Ruse) Roberts took her final bow on Friday, November 25, 2022. In her 48 years on the planet, she played the roles of daughter, friend, actor, educator, mentor, colleague, wife, and mother to great acclaim. Most recently a resident of Fishers, Kim was born in Indianapolis on May 5, 1974. She graduated from Bishop Chatard High School (Indianapolis) and earned a bachelor’s degree in theatre education from Ball State University as well as a master’s degree in education from Indiana Wesleyan University. She was awarded the Ball State Department of Theatre and Dance Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018 and served on the department’s alumni board. “Miss Ruse” encountered hundreds of students in her 22 years as a high school theatre, drama, and speech teacher, initially at Muncie Southside High School and most recently at Southport High School (Indianapolis). She directed dozens of productions in her career. More importantly, her classes and shows offered students from a wide variety of backgrounds an opportunity to build diverse communities and enjoy a respite from the struggles of high school. She inspired her student performers with the quote, “Magic is theatre. Theatre is magic. And blessed are we who create that magic.” Outside of her career as an educator, Kim was an award-winning actor and fixture in the Indianapolis theatre community. She performed regularly at venues including Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre in Carmel, Theatre on the Square in Indianapolis, and Buck Creek Playhouse in Indianapolis. When not in the classroom or on stage, Kim could often be found enjoying her family’s lake house on Lake Shafer or watching the Purdue Boilermakers with her dad. Kim is survived by her loving husband, Ryan; son, Harry; parents, Susie (Woirhaye) and Tim Ruse; parents-in-law, Charlene and Marion Roberts; dear friend Brianne Williams; lifelong companion Theodore Bearington; aunt Margie (Rod) Bruce; and uncles Daniel (Carole) Ruse and Steve Winegardner. She was preceded in death by grandparents Harry and Eleanor Woirhaye, grandmother Anna Marie Ruse, great-grandmother Ann Jennings, aunt Lucinda Winegardner, and uncle John Woirhaye. “The Girl” is also survived by scores of friends, students, colleagues, fellow performers, and admirers who were all inspired by her bravery, which never allowed anything to break her spirit, interrupt her plans, or quiet her laughter. Her friends and family plan to gather on her next birthday, May 5, 2023, to celebrate Kim and offer a standing ovation for her performance in this life. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Ball State University Department of Theatre and Dance. Visit connect.bsu.edu/FineArts-Give and select the “Theatre and Dance” option to donate. Arrangements are being handled by Erlewein Mortuary & Crematory in Greenfield.

Kimberly (Ruse) Roberts

May 5, 1974 - November 25, 2022