Henry and Helen Ruston at the presentation of their honorary degrees from the University of Southern Indiana. The ceremony took place at the Evansville Country Club at 3810 Stringtown Rd. Henry Ruston was born in Evansville, IN on August 25, 1921, and was a graduate of Bosse High School, University of Evansville, and University of Miami. He served as a flight instructor in the United States Air Force during World War II. After the war, he was a florist until his retirement. Ruston was married to Helen (nee Niednagel) until her death in 1997, and to his second wife, Betty Jane Taylor Hopkins, until her death in 2002. He did not have any children. In 1995, he and his wife, Helen, received honorary degrees from the University of Southern Indiana. Ruston passed away on December 1, 2005. Presenting the degrees is then USI president Dr. H. Ray Hoops, with Dr. Robert Reid, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Helen Ruston, Henry Ruston.