Ruthanna S. "Worl" Griffey

Ruthanna Sue (Worl) Griffey passed away after a short illness on March 29, 2026 surrounded by her loving family and friends. She was 73.

Ruthanna was born on November 15, 1952 to Joseph Charles and Lois Eloise (Prather) McFall of Pershing/ East Germantown, Indiana. News of the impending twin birth was so exciting it made the local paper. The twins, Diana and Ruthanna, were the light of their father’s eyes, and their mother said if he had not passed away when they were young, they would have been spoiled beyond redemption.

Ruthanna graduated from Lincoln High School in Cambridge City in 1971. She married her high school sweetheart, Daniel D. Worl, in 1972 welcoming the first of two children, Heidi Jo later that year, and then Travis Dee in 1975. Ruthanna was a hard worker and devoted mother and grandmother who loved her family, home projects, mowing, and being needed. She stayed busy all the time, whether it was running her kids to their activities, pitching in on the farm, running the restaurant, or supporting her kids, and later grandkids, in their activities – she didn’t know how to not be doing something. She was famous for her black raspberry cobbler, pineapple upside down cake, chocolate oatmeal cookies, and more.

As a family, the Worl’s owned and operated Worl’s Silver Dollar, Lakeview Restaurant, and the Eagle’s Nest Lounge. They later worked for and retired from Ford/ Visteon, in Connersville, Indiana. A portion of Worl Family Farms north of I-70 was only accessible by crossing a river. Ruthanna and Daniel petitioned to have Fagan Road reopened. The county agreed to maintain the road if they opened it. They bought a bulldozer, cleared the road, and picked up more sticks and rocks than you can possibly imagine. With access now provided, in 1991 they were able to build a cozy log cabin home that overlooked their land. They lived there happily until Daniel’s passing in 2016. In between, they traveled with friends and family, checking off such bucket list locations as the British Isles, Hawaii, Alaska, and others, enjoyed their grandchildren, and lived the life they had worked so hard to build. Ruthanna was proud to contribute to the Worl family legacy with the purchase of the original homestead property in 2021.

After losing the Worl family patriarch, Daniel had arranged for Griffey Farms of Milton, Indiana to assist with the hands-on running of the farm. The Griffey’s became integral to the running of the farm as Daniel fought cancer. Ruthanna was a favorite from the start with special deliveries of McDonald’s for lunch and milk shakes on hot days. After Daniel’s passing, the Griffey’s went over and above to help Ruthanna keep the farm intact and prosperous.

Dan Griffey and Ruthanna had known each other since high school. Both widowed, they found comfort in shared meals and conversations. Although neither looked for or expected it, they realized they had fallen in love. With all of their families’ blessings, on September 3, 2024, they married in a private ceremony in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Ruthanna and Dan’s time together may have been short, but in each other they found and cherished a great love. For Dan, Ruthanna was the love of his life, and for Ruthanna, she was given the precious gift of a second chance of a love just as great. Coming from different church families, they chose to make a new church home together at Grace Community Church in Connersville, Indiana.

Ruthanna is survived by her husband Dan Griffey, daughter Heidi Wales (Robert), son Travis Worl (Richard Lindau), granddaughter Hannah Snyder (Will), grandson Beau Wales (Hannah), and great-grandson Rowan Wales, brother Joseph McFall, twin sister Diana McNew (Jay), nephews Daniel L. Worl and Paul Worl, great-nieces Alexis Worl and Sara Leduc, and great-nephew Josh Worl; Dan’s children: Mark Griffey, Michael Griffey (Cara), and Thomas Griffey (Amanda) and their children Liliana, Emma, Noah, Joseph, Eli, Lilah, and Joshua Griffey. Ruthanna was preceded in death by her first husband, Daniel D. Worl, brother, Mark ‘Piedy’ McFall, and sister-in-law, Patty McFall.

It was Ruthanna’s long-standing, final request for there to be no services held in her honor.

Travis will be hosting a Celebration of Life for Ruthanna on Wednesday, April 8th from 4:30 pm until the start of a short remembrance at 6:30 pm at The Archive (the old Cambridge City Library), 33 W. Main St., Cambridge City, IN.

Anyone wishing to honor her memory may make donations to the Veteran’s Memorial in Richmond, Indiana, Grace Community Church in Connersville, Indiana, or any of your local animal shelters.

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