Ruby Belle Oyer b. 16 Mar 1920 Foosland, Champaign Co., IL d. 16 Jun 2013 Urbana, Champaign Co., IL: The Schrock-Birkey Connection

Ruby Belle Oyer[1]

Female 1920 - 2013  (93 years)


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  • Name Ruby Belle Oyer  [2
    Birth 16 Mar 1920  Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Occupation Raised her family and worked as a residential housekeeper 
    Religion Mennonite 
    Death 16 Jun 2013  Urbana, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Carle Hospital
    Burial Fisher, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • East Bend Mennonite Cemetery
    Person ID I2884  Schrock-Birkey Connection
    Last Modified 15 Dec 2018 

    Father Joseph Oyer,   b. 29 Mar 1880   d. 10 Jul 1963 (Age 83 years) 
    Mother Bertha Zimmerman,   b. 25 Oct 1889   d. 14 Oct 1952 (Age 62 years) 
    Marriage 25 Nov 1909 
    Family ID F2601  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Harlan Daniel Birkey,   b. 4 Oct 1918, Deer Creek, Tazewell Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Oct 1996, Urbana, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 78 years) 
    Marriage 14 Feb 1946  [1
    Children 
     1. Joy Marie Birkey,   b. 7 Aug 1948, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 19 Aug 1966, Lincoln, Logan Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 18 years)
     2. Joe Allan Birkey
    Family ID F1821  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 4 Feb 2001 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 16 Mar 1920 - Foosland, Champaign Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 16 Jun 2013 - Urbana, Champaign Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Fisher, Champaign Co., IL Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 
    • Obit: http://www.news-gazette.com/obituaries/2013-06-19/ruby-birkey.html
      RANTOUL – Ruby Belle Birkey, 93, of Rantoul died at 9:50 a.m. Sunday (June 16, 2013) at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

      Both the visitation and funeral will be held at the East Bend Mennonite Church, CR 3300 N, Fisher. Visitation will be held Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 3 to 4 p.m. The funeral will then start at 4 p.m. Rev. Jeff Ressler will officiate. Burial will follow in the East Bend Mennonite Church Cemetery.
      Lux Memorial Chapel, Rantoul, is handling the arrangements.

      Ruby was born on March 16, 1920, in Foosland to Joseph and Bertha (Zimmerman) Oyer. She was preceded in death by her parents.
      She married Harlan Birkey, who preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were a daughter, Joy Marie Birkey, four brothers and two sisters.

      She is survived by her son, Joe (Celeste) Birkey of Rantoul; a brother, Merle Oyer of Champaign; a sister, Dorothy Oyer Parsons of McAllen, Texas; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
      Ruby accepted Christ at an early age and attended East Bend Mennonite Church all of her life. During Ruby's working years, she raised her family and worked as a residential housekeeper. Her husband, Harlan, was a mechanic at Springer Ford in Rantoul.

      She was an excellent cook and her family especially enjoyed her famous angel food cakes, butterscotch pies and homemade candies which she often brought out at family and church gatherings.
      She was active in different East Bend Mennonite activities and ministries, especially the Mennonite Women's ministry and the church's annual Vacation Bible School.

      Ruby helped with sewing, quilt making and cooking for the Mennonite Women and she cooked for church events. She served as a bell ringer for years in the annual church's Vacation Bible School. She brought many friends and neighbors' children to church and VBS throughout the years.

      Ruby was active in TOPS of Rantoul. She knew many people in Rantoul and the surrounding areas. She knew most of her neighbors who lived on her street plus kept track of some of them through the years. She was the family historian.

      Ruby's philosophy was that a stranger was a friend she had not yet met. She was sensitive to the needs of those around her even in the later years of her own poor health. She had a special friendship with her caregiver, Paula Ashby of Rantoul. For many years she provided a friendly home and environment to her niece, Sharon Birkey.
      Ruby loved flowers and rides through the countryside. She loved to play Uno and other table games.
      She will be missed by all.

  • Sources 
    1. [S2] Ruth Berkey Reichly, The Berkey Book, (Arlington, VA).

    2. [S559] Descendants of John B. Zimmerman and Martha Fahsbender.


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