Sheila Ruth ColdwellSheila Ruth Coldwell, 76, of Evansville, Indiana died quickly of cancer on August 21, 2016 surrounded by her 3 children whom she loved with all her heart. Sheila was born on November 11, 1939 in Daytona Beach, FL. At Leon High School in Tallahassee, Sheila was on the swim team and debate team. She was the first girl to get a varsity "L" sweater after she fought the school to allow girls to be able to receive varsity letters. She was also one of the first girls in Florida to become a lifeguard. Sheila competed in the Florida Jr. Olympics winning awards in the butterfly, breaststroke and the 400 individual medleys. Sheila attended Florida State University and was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority and FSU swim team. She moved to Southern Illinois and continued her studies at Southern Illinois University in the Honors English program. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English & Art and obtained her Teaching Certification in English and Art for grades 7 - 12. In 1973, Sheila earned a Master's Degree in English from the University of Evansville. She was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi Scholastic Achievement Honor Society and the Pi Lambda Theta - School of Education Honor Society.Passionate about literature, art, music, historic preservation, natural history and genealogy, Sheila was involved in a myriad of activities: Evansville Museum, Reitz Historic Home, Junior League, Evansville Philharmonic and St. Paul's Episcopal Church. She was a member of the Colonial Dames, Daughters of the American Revolution and United Daughters of the Confederacy. Sheila authored two books, "Notes from a Perilous Journey 1978-1998" and a compilation of her great-grandfather's Civil War writings "Diary and Letters by Hugh Black - American Civil War June 15, 1861 - December 27, 1864". Both her books were accepted by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and the Special Collections Room at Willard Library. Sheila's poetry was selected for publication in "Of Sunshine and Daydreams" by the National Library of Poetry, 1996. Vivacious, elegant and passionate, Sheila led a full life. She is survived by her daughters Elizabeth (Jeffery) Sankovitch of Evansville, IN and Kathleen (Chris) Pettijohn of Newburgh, IN and her son Raymond Jack (Jennifer) Lewis, III of Evansville, IN; five grandchildren, Laura (Cory) King, Sarah Sankovitch, Luke Pettijohn, Henry Lewis and Lucy Lewis; two great-grandchildren, Marcston and Colton King; her sister Elizabeth (Chris) Frano. Her final resting place will be with her parents Walter and Ruby (Hopkins) Coldwell at Oakland Cemetery in Tallahassee, Florida. Memorial donations for Sheila Coldwell can be made to Willard Library, 21 N First Ave, Evansville, Indiana 47710. Her children would love to read how Sheila touched your life and your fondest memories of her. Please write your remembrances to [email protected]