EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana women's coaching legend Ruth Waller passed away early Saturday morning after long battles with cancer and illness. Waller, who was 62 years old, concluded a 36-year run at the University after retiring last year.
 
Waller was instrumental in the birth of women's athletics at USI. She coached the women's basketball team for nine of the first 10 years, when women's college basketball was in its infancy.
 
Waller also began the USI softball program, coaching the squad for 10 years and posting 100 victories. During her tenure as softball coach, USI was a major force in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), the predecessor to women's athletics in the NCAA. In AIAW, USI was on the same level as many of Indiana's Division I programs.

"Ruth was a true pioneer and meant so much to the development of our department," said USI Director of Athletics Jon Mark Hall. "Her vision for women's athletics helped propel our programs to what they are today. She loved USI and she will be missed." 
 
The native of Ireland, Indiana, who also was the Screaming Eagles' first women's tennis coach, was inducted in the USI Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008 and was selected as a USI Phenomenal Woman in 2007.
 
Following her coaching career, Waller took that same enthusiastic attitude to recreation and fitness programs, creating one of the most successful programs on a college campus anywhere. The special events she created in the program make it possible for people of all backgrounds, abilities, and ages to participate.
 
Waller brought Disc Golf to Evansville, creating the first course, open to all citizens, on the USI campus. She also worked to raise awareness of disabilities by managing wheelchair basketball games on campus. She was an energetic founder and sustainer of the USI Komen Race for the Cure team.
 
Waller is survived by her husband of 33 years, Doug Waller; daughter, Kristin (Josh) Dahmer, of Newburgh; son, Chad Waller, of Clearwater, Fla.; grandson, Luke; sisters, Marilyn "Toot" Schwenk and Janet Kordes, of Jasper, Ind., Karen Hoffman, of Schnellville, Ind., Debbie Schwenk, Shelly Main, and Jody Verkamp, all of Jasper; brothers, Mike, Ron, Tim, Mark, and Keith Schwenk, all of Jasper; and mother-in-law Joyce Waller, of Evansville.

Ruth Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Mary Ann Schwenk, and brother, David Schwenk.
 
Visitation will be on Wednesday, April 17, 2013, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Ziemer Funeral Home East Chapel, 800 S. Hebron Ave., Evansville, with a memorial service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue on Thursday, April 18, 2013, from 9:30 to 10 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 1301 S. Green River Rd., Evansville.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church with Father Jeff Read officiating.  Burial will be in Park Lawn Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to The National Brain Tumor Society, 55 Chapel St., Ste. 200, Newton, MA 02458.

Condolences may be made to the family online at ziemerfuneralhome.com. The full obituary can be found at CourierPress.com.