Ruby Howell Allbaugh died on Monday (May 16, 2011) at Asbury Park in Newton at the age of 90.
She was born on Oct. 18, 1920, on a farm in southwest Harvey County to George and Gertie Johnson Howell, the youngest of nine children.
Ruby attended school in Ottawa, graduating from Ottawa High in 1938. She then attended Emporia State Teachers College, supporting herself as a part-time secretary in the college office, to prepare for a career as a typing and shorthand teacher.
In April 1941, during her senior year, she unexpectedly was offered a job in Washington, D.C., by the U.S. Civil Service and accepted it "temporarily," thinking the experience would make her a better teacher of high school students. The job turned out to be an especially challenging and interesting one, as secretary in the office of the Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. George C. Marshall. Ruby remained in Gen. Marshall's office during the early years of World War II, resigning in 1943 to join her husband at his Army station in Indiana.
Ruby married Alden Allbaugh, whom she'd met in an English class at Emporia State, on Dec. 21, 1941. They moved to Newton in 1946 to begin Alden's 36-year career as a teacher and later guidance counselor at Newton High School. Ruby worked as secretary to the administrator of Bethel Deaconess Hospital and Home for Aged for nearly 20 years, and later as medical transcription manager at Halstead Hospital.
In retirement, Ruby and Alden volunteered for VITA, the volunteer income tax service, for 20 years, along with other community activities. Ruby was, for 50 years, an active member of Salem United Methodist Church, and for the past 15 years, of Trinity Heights United Methodist Church. She enjoyed contract bridge, word puzzles, volunteering and traveling throughout Kansas and the United States to pursue Alden's retirement hobby, tournament horseshoe pitching, where she enjoyed volunteering as scorekeeper. Ruby treasured the friends she and Alden made on the horseshoe circuit.
Ruby had a gift for friendship, and she kept in close touch not only with her siblings and their children but with high school, college and Washington friends for decades. She made new friends daily in her circle of caregivers to the end of her life.
Survivors include her children, Karen Snyder and husband, Tom of Hancock, Mich., and son, Tom Allbaugh and wife, Kathy of Saline, Mich.; four grandchildren, Dan Snyder of Somerville, Mass., Julia Snyder of Edinburgh, Scotland, Lucy Allbaugh of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Grace Allbaugh of East Lansing, Mich.; sister-in-law, Julia Brooks of Lawrence; and a large extended family.
She was preceded in death by her siblings, Mary Grace Canning, Dr. Alvin H. Howell, Edna Mae Howell, Neva Ruth Clark, Eva June Marak, Ida Belle Banta, Henry E. Howell and Dr. John R. Howell, and their spouses, as well as Alden's sister, Martha Montfoort, and brother, Edgar Allbaugh, and their spouses.
Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton, where family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Trinity Heights United Methodist Church in Newton. The Rev. Cheryl Jefferson Bell will officiate. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Good Samaritan Fund of Asbury Park or to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, and may be sent to Petersen Funeral Home, 215 N. Main St. Newton, KS 67114.
Arrangements are by Petersen Funeral Home.
