Ruth Anna (Farlow) Uyesugi

Ruth Farlow Uyesugi Succumbs at Age 95

Ruth Anna Farlow Uyesugi, age 95, beloved Paoli High School teacher, journalist and

novelist passed away on 20 November 2018 at the Brookdale Care Facility in Carmel, IN.  j

A Paoli native, she was the daughter of Paul and Clara Wells Farlow and a member of the

Paoli Friends Meeting. She graduated from Paoli High School in 1941 and from Earlham

College in Richmond, IN, majoring in English and journalism. She earned a master’s degree in

English and journalism from Indiana University in 1964. 

She taught journalism, English, Latin and Spanish for over 55 years at Paoli Senior High

School and sponsored the school’s award-winning newspaper (Paolite) and year book (The

Hillcrest).  She introduced over 4,000 students to English composition and journalism during her

55 years of teaching at PHS.  Her students affectionately called her Sugi” or “Mrs. U”, and she

taught, mentored and loved her students while they were in school and afterwards.  She loved to

say that her PHS students graduated, went on to college, returned to live and work in Paoli or

teach at PHS.  They got married and had children who became Sugi’s students and eventually

returned as another generation to teach with Mrs. “U”.   Mrs. U was named a finalist for the

Indiana Teacher of the Year Award in 1981 and 1988, and the school newspaper earned All-

American honors from the National Scholastic Press Association in 1986, 1989 and 1991. 

Throughout her teaching career, Mrs. U also worked as a reporter, columnist and

photographer for the Paoli News-Republican. In 1993 and 1994 she won news story and feature

photo awards from the Hoosier State Press Association. From 1994 to 2006 Mrs. U also wrote a

weekly column, On the Flip Side, for the Paoli News-Republican in which she reported on and

provided her and her well known feline Chiisai’s personal views and comments on happenings

around the world, the nation, state, Orange County and Paoli.

In 1978 she also published the book Don’t Cry Chiisai, Don’t Cry, a first-hand account of

her life before, during, and after World War II; her marriage into a Japanese family; and her

experiences dealing with discrimination of the times. She also wrote and directed numerous

skits, eight plays and a musical for student productions.

In addition to teaching and journalism, Mrs. U loved to perform in the Orange County

Players. The founding member of the group, for years she tried out for and performed in many

productions directed by her fellow teachers, Larry Hollan and Debra Stroud.  They charitably

allowed her to sing in many musicals like Oklahoma as well as Christmas madrigals. 

On 17 April 1998 Mrs. U became the first high school teacher to be inducted into the

Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame.  In 2006 after spending over half of her life teaching, PHS

named the new school auditorium the Ruth Farlow Uyesugi Auditorium after their beloved Mrs.

U. She was overwhelmed and gratified by the honor but cried to realize that it signaled that soon

she would no longer be teaching her beloved students. 

She was a member of the Tri Kappa sorority and Paoli Friends Meeting, where for years

she helped organize and conduct the church’s annual Thanksgiving dinner for her beloved fellow

Paolians. For many years she and her husband, Dr. E.T. Uyesugi, also sponsored the church’s

youth group. 

Paoli High School and Orange County Players will host a memorial for Mrs. U at the

Paoli High School Ruth Farlow Uyesugi Auditorium from 2:00-4:00 pm, 13 April 2019, and all

her Paoli friends and family are welcome to attend.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Paoli High School Ruth Farlow Uyesugi

Scholarship Fund at the Orange County Community Foundation, Inc. 1075N. Sandy Hook Rd.,

Suite #2, Paoli, IN 47454.

Surviving Mrs. Uyesugi are her sister; Mildred Farlow Pritchett of Chicago, IL; a son,

Army Colonel (retired) Daniel Farlow Uyesugi of Fayetteville, GA and his wife, Karen Denise

Uyesugi; a daughter, Anne Uyesugi Williams of Fishers, IN and her husband, Bradley Williams;

A daughter-in-law, Mary Woodburn Uyesugi; six granddaughters: Kelli Uyesugi Turner of

Bluffton, SC; Elizabeth Anne Williams of Burbank, CA; Sarah Anne Williams of Burbank, CA;

Dr. Betty Uyesugi Sheehan of Columbus, IN; Ruthie Uyesugi of New York City, NY; and Edie

Uyesugi of Columbus, OH; and two grandsons: Daniel Uyesugi, Jr. of Marietta, GA, and  Edward Uyesugi of Columbus, OH. and six great grandchildren.   Preceding

her in death were her husband, Dr. Edward T. Uyesugi; her son, Dr. Edward Farlow Uyesugi;

and a grandson, Johnathan Paul Uyesugi.   

Arrangements made by Dillman-Scott Funeral Home, 226 W. Campbell Street, Paoli, IN 47454. 

Online Condolences may be made at Dillman-Scott Funeral Home.com.

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