Ruby May Smith

Ruby was born June 26, 1920, on the family farm in Gorin, MO, to James and Irene Raine. In 1939, she began nurses training at Swedish Covenant Hospital, Chicago. Upon graduation in 1942 as a Registered Nurse, she enlisted in the Navy with the rank of Ensign. Ruby was transferred to Honolulu, HI, where she set up clinics for families of soldiers. It was there she met the love of her life, Irven Smith, who was a Navy corpsman. They were married March 8, 1947, in Portsmouth, VA. Irven and Ruby have two sons, John and Warren.

Ruby was a stay-at-home mother as Irven made a career in the Navy. The young family moved several times during their Navy days. Ruby resumed her nursing career after Irven retired and the family moved to Susanville, CA. Eventually, Irven transferred to Folsom Prison to work in the medical department. After Irven retired from the CA Dept. of Corrections, they traveled for five years in their 5th wheel all over the country. They also traveled to Canada, Europe and Israel. Those were very happy years.

Ruby became active in Community Bible Church, Folsom, CA. She was especially active in Daytimers, the church’s senior citizen ministry. Her responsibility was to bring humor to the meetings. She could tell “Sven and Ollie” jokes with a wonderful Swedish accent that brought smiles to all who attended. In 2011, Ruby and Irven, took John and Warren and their wives, Jeanette and Karen, on a cruise to the Caribbean Sea. Ruby especially enjoyed the evening meals together as a family.

Ruby is survived by her husband, Irven, sons, John (Jeanette) Lynden, WA, and Warren (Karen), Sunnyvale, CA, granddaughters Julie (Brueher), Jennifer (Floyd), Stephanie McCarthy, grandsons Jason Smith, John McCarthy, great-grandchildren Savannah Brueher, Gibson Brueher, Annelise Brueher, JonMarc Brueher, Dalynn Floyd, Julianna Floyd, Elliot Smith, Ruby Smith and Scarlet Smith. Ruby was preceded in death by her parents, James and Irene, and her brother James.

A celebration memorial will be held Saturday, Nov. 16, 2pm, at Community Bible Church, 601 Natoma St., Folsom, CA. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruby's memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.