Ruby Jean Bailey

When Ruby Jean Bailey walked into the room, those in her company felt energy, an enthusiastic spontaneity. This was just one example of who Ruby Jean was and how she impacted those around her. Ruby Jean was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if Ruby Jean wanted to share all of their experiences, revel in their lives and celebrate their discoveries. Ruby Jean was tireless and had boundless enthusiasm that would serve her well throughout her life.

       She was the daughter of Charles Ernest and Anna Fern Walton. Ruby Jean was raised in Sabina, Ohio. Always at the ready with a good joke, she grew up to be quite a humorous person. While some who knew Ruby Jean might describe her as an idealist, her friends and family understood well that Ruby Jean was always in pursuit of life’s endless possibilities and opportunities available to her.

      Ruby Jean was raised with two sisters and a baby brother. She had an older sister Alma, younger sister Esther and baby brother Donald. Ruby Jean was very accepting and supportive of her family. She was perceived as the central person in her family in terms of keeping communication open between the family members. Whenever discord or tension arose within the home, Ruby Jean was typically the member who brought about resolution and harmony. These traits served Ruby Jean well in her adult life and, along with her wit, outgoing personality, and understanding of others, drew the admiration of many who knew her.

      As a young girl, Ruby Jean was able to empathize and identify with a vast array of people and personality types. This quality drew her into a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. Ruby Jean was intelligent and had little trouble getting along with her peers. She was almost always the first to jump in when it came to playing games or participating in other childhood activities. In her spare time she liked playing the organ and piano. Ruby Jean had the ability to find amusement with almost any activity she and the many childhood friends she shared might discover.

      During her high school years, Ruby Jean responded enthusiastically to any new project and was regularly in search of one adventure after another. She graduated from Sabina High School. In 1940. Ruby Jean was a very good student, and generally did well in her courses. Ruby Jean absorbed as much as she could from all of her teachers and was consistently able to tackle conceptual and abstract problems, using her imagination to master her assignments. For Ruby Jean, school often became just an extension of playtime, thanks to her ability to turn just about anything into a game. Classmates considered Ruby Jean a good listener, knowing that when necessary, they could go to her to discuss just about anything.

      Ruby Jean did well in college, as a result of her comfort level with tackling new theories and her love of learning. She earned a College Degree. She also pursued Cosmotolgy School to help her husband in the funeral business. Ruby Jean was very adaptable, a quality that helped her make the transition from high school to college with little difficulty. As a result, Ruby Jean's problem solving skills and thirst for new knowledge almost guaranteed that she enjoyed virtually every class she took. Ruby Jean was always in quest of new things to learn and experience

      With a talent for making acquaintances easily which in turn brought her an endless stream of friends, Ruby Jean was very sociable and could blend without effort into any social group. Assertive and outgoing, Ruby Jean was easy to know and demonstrated a deep concern for others. She always seemed aware of what was going on with people around her and throughout her life she made many, many friends. Later in life, she became friends with Betty Faulkner, Mrs. Didlick, Charma Jordon and her Church Family.

      On Nov. 13, 1949 Ruby Jean married Joel F. Bailey Sr. at First Church of God Harrison and Newberry St. of Washington Court House, Ohio. Ruby Jean's skill at “building bridges” played an important role in her ability to make her new family happy. She was quite sensitive towards Joel's needs, showing her constant concern and fondness. Ruby Jean was tenderhearted and sensitive, qualities that served her well in helping to nurture her family.

      Ruby Jean was a natural and creative parent who was willing to provide her family with all sorts of new and interesting experiences. For Ruby Jean, parenting was a particularly enjoyable and pleasurable part of her life. Every activity, from chores to bedtime routines, became a game in the Bailey home. Ruby Jean's skill at understanding her children's feelings, her sensitivity to their needs, and her gift for gentle persuasion enabled her to find novel solutions to any problem or situation that might crop up. Ruby Jean was blessed with four children: Katherine Joelette, Joel Frank Jr., Alicia Jean and Von Duane.

      Ruby Jean was uplifted by new ideas and was excited by life’s possibilities, traits that made her an exceptional worker. Her primary occupation was key puncher at Wright-Patterson Air Field and Lady Attendant at The Bailey Funeral Home. Ruby Jean was enterprising, inventive and working against deadlines seemed to energize her. Ruby Jean had the uncanny ability to identify a win/win solution to just about any problem, possibly because of her gift for insight. Ruby Jean's fellow workers saw her as a supporter and a mentor.

      Throughout her life, Ruby Jean was actively involved in professional and community organizations. She was compassionate, accommodating and quick to move into action. Always able to build a consensus, Ruby Jean seemed to be the person smack dab in the middle of things, working to get things done. Those who had the opportunity to work with Ruby Jean usually agreed that when you were involved in an organization with her, it was as entertaining as anything you could imagine. In college, Ruby Jean joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

      Ruby Jean was a woman who was dedicated and devoted to her faith. She was a member 11th Avenue First Church of God . During that time, she was an usher, organ player and Trustee. She was sympathetic and able to empathize with others and she used these qualities to the fullest while working tirelessly for her beliefs.

       She is survived by Daughter, Katherine (Leslie) Fuller, sons, Joel Frank Jr.,and Von(Anita) Bailey, brother, Donald Garnett) Walton.

Services will be at First Church of God in Washington CH, Ohio on Monday, September 30th, 2013. Ruby Jean will be laid to rest in Sabina, Ohio.

      There was always a certain style and inventiveness to Ruby Jean. She was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. She had a knack for being clever, creative and witty, and for others, was a joy to be around. While she was often fiercely independent, it seemed as if many others looked to Ruby Jean Bailey for inspiration, leadership, wisdom and even courage. Ruby Jean was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with her loved ones.

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Ruby Jean Bailey was born May 28, 1922 to the late Charles Ernest and Anna Fern Walton. On September 21, 2013, Ruby went home to be with the Lord. Ruby was raised in Sabina, Ohio with two sisters, the late Alma Byrd, and the late Esther Holmes and her brother, Donald Walton. Later in life, Ruby’s family relocated to Washington Court House, Ohio to begin a new journey. Ruby attended Wilberforce College and became a licensed Cosmetologist. In 1949, Ruby married Joel Frank Bailey Sr. and relocated to Middletown, Ohio where they operated the family business, The Bailey Funeral Home. Four children were born from this marriage. Ruby Bailey was a member of Eleventh and Lincoln First Church of God, until her illness no longer afforded her the opportunity to attend. She was dedicated and devoted to her faith. Ruby loved her church family. As a member, she was an Usher, Organist and Trustee. Ruby, was preceded in death by her daughter, Alicia Jean Bailey and Grandson Duane Larent Bailey . She is survived by her daughter, Katherine Joelette ( Leslie) Fuller of Middletown, Joel Frank Bailey Jr. Tacoma, Washington, and Von Duane (Anita) of Portland, Oregon. She has 10 Grandchildren, Euolinda Bailey, Troy Bailey, Sherita Barrett, Robert Turner, Joel F. Bailey III, LaShawn Hargo, Tara Bailey, LeAnna White, Phillip Bailey and Kymyada Saloan. 14 Great-Grandchildren and 1 Great Great Grandchild and a host of nephews, nieces and cousins. Special sons, Duane Douglas Bailey and Roderick (Kelly) Bailey, Special Granddaughters, Twila R. Favors, LaQuanda R. Kirk, of Dayton, Ohio.

Funeral Service at First Church of God, Washington Court House, Ohio. On Monday, September 30, 2013 at 1:00pm, with Rev. Lawrence Woodson Officiating. Interment to follow at Sabina Cemetery in Sabina, Ohio.