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- 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.
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