Clara Ruebush

Clara Belle Hanks Ruebush was born in Breckenridge, Texas on June 17, 1929 to James Allen Hanks and Clara Mae Sledge. She was a sickly child, in that she had bronchial asthma. In 1939, when she was 9 years old, the Doctors told her parents that if they did not get her out of the cedar country she would die.

We moved around often. Some of the places we lived in briefly until 1943 were Southland, Texas, Slaton, Texas, Monahans, Texas, Grand Falls, Texas, Van Horn, Texas, Douglas, Arizona, Mesa, Arizona, then Deming, New Mexico, where my mother and dad made this their permanent home. This is where I met and married my husband Leonard Ruebush.

I mostly was a housewife. I enjoyed being a wife, a homemaker and a mother to our children. My husband built us a home at 623 West Hemlock, in Deming, in 1947 this is where we lived when our two oldest children were born, David and Elizabeth. In 1955 we moved to Crane, Texas because of the job opportunities. In 1957 our youngest daughter Rebecca was born while we lived in Crane. In 1963 our youngest son was born, Stephen. We enjoyed the 11 years we lived in Goldsmith. We were involved in church work, in scouting activities, 4-H Club, civic activities and in school programs and activities. We had lots of good friends in Goldsmith. In 1969 we moved again, because of our children’s activities in the Odessa Public Schools. This was an unforgettable year for me, also rather hectic, our oldest son David got married, I had my 40th birthday, (tears), our oldest daughter, Elizabeth began her senior year at Odessa High, our youngest daughter, Rebecca started to Hood Jr. High, our youngest son, Stephen started in the first grade at Goliad Elementary and I started working outside the home. I worked for 4 years for the E.S.I.D. food service, I also worked at Franklins Department store for 1 ½ years and for Cobbs Department Store. After this I worked for Dr. Downen D.D.S. as a dental assistant for 2 years, then I got into the insurance business and was in personal lines for 3 or 4 independent insurance companies, agencies, in Odessa, Texas. I retired in 1983 to become a full time homemaker again. I taught Bible school for over 35 years, different age groups. I also taught ladies Bible class for awhile. I still teach 5th and 6th grades, March 1997. I was treasurer of E.C.I.S.D. food service. I was also president of E.C.I.S.D. food service. I was president elect of the Independent Insurance Women of Odessa. I was also president of Independent Insurance Women of Odessa.

When my boys were in scouts, I was a Den Mother, a Den Leader and received numerous awards for my involvement and participation. When my girls were in Girl Scouts and 4-H I was also a leader.

After my husband retired in 1988 we bought a travel trailer and a new custom van to pull it with. We traveled all over the country, to some of the 48 states, Canada and Mexico. We have been to all of the 48 states in the continental United States. I have a collection of plates from all 48 states plus Washington, D.C. and the Island of Vancouver, Canada.

After our children married they moved to different parts and cities of this country. We enjoy visiting with our children and grandchildren. They live in Lubbock, Texas, Houston, Texas, Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Odessa, Texas. We have visited with them when they lived in Las Vegas, Nevada, Sidney Nebraska, Austin, Texas, and the eastern shore of Maryland. When our children were growing up we enjoyed going to Arizona and visiting with my sister and her family and Leonard’s mother. We would all go camping in the mountains. This is how we visited and caught up with all the latest news about each other’s families. We would also go sightseeing from our campsite. We have visited nearly all the old Forts and Indian ruins in Arizona and New Mexico and some in Texas. We also took our children to Disneyland twice.

We enjoy our (4) children, (9) grandchildren and our (8) great-grandchildren, (most of the time). We visit them as often as we can.

On October 1, 1985 Leonard was made an Elder at the Sherwood Church of Christ, that keeps us busy doing the Lord’s work, we enjoy working for our Lord.

There will be a visitation 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Friday, January 4, 2013 at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 5, 2013 at Sherwood Church of Christ with Lynn Money officiating. Interment will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at Ector County /Rosehill Section, Odessa, Texas.

Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.