Ruby Lois Sanders

Ruby Lois Sanders passed away on December 23, 2023 at the age of 92 years following a lengthy illness. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Paul Sanders, her parents Lemmie and Emma Walker, and her 11 brothers and sisters Eva, Estelle, Maud, L. G., Eunice, Marvin, Louise, Naomi, Mary Francis, Doyle, and Barbara.

Ruby was born on July 1, 1931 in Loraine, Texas, the second youngest of 12 children of Lemmie and Emma Walker. During Ruby’s early years, Lemmie worked on farms in the Loraine area of West Texas and was helped with the farm work by his large family. Ruby was too young to pick cotton but remembered riding on the cotton sack of her older sister Eunice during harvest season.

Ruby and her family later lived in Rosenberg, Texas before moving to Mineola, Texas in 1946. While living in Mineola, she met the love of her life Paul Sanders. Ruby graduated from Mineola High School in 1948, and they married in November of that year when Ruby was 17 years old, and Paul was 19 years old. In 1951, their only child Paula was born. Paula brought much happiness into their lives, and they were a very close-knit family.

Ruby attended cosmetology school in Tyler, Texas and became a licensed hairdresser. She worked as a hairdresser in the Mineola area for more than 30 years with most of those years as a self-employed business lady. An expert seamstress, Ruby learned how to sew at an early age from her sister Mary Francis.

Ruby, Paul, and Paula were faithful, active members of the Broad Street Church of Christ in Mineola where both Ruby and Paul were Bible class teachers and Paul served as a deacon. Paul retired in 1985 from a long, successful career in banking with the First National Bank of Mineola. Ruby and Paul greatly enjoyed their retirement years together and were known among friends for their musical talents, Ruby singing and Paul playing guitar.

Paul died in 1992 at age 62 which dramatically changed Ruby’s life. She moved to Longview, Texas to be near her daughter Paula, son-in-law Joe Harle, and granddaughters Allison and Lindsey. She lived independently for 26 years in Longview and was an active member of the Longview Church of Christ. Ruby especially enjoyed her grandchildren Allison and Lindsey and her great grandchildren Audrey, Walker, and Luna. Ruby resided with Paula and Joe the last four years of her life as her health slowly began to decline.

Ruby is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Joe Harle, granddaughter Allison Beadle and husband Brian Beadle, and granddaughter Lindsey Forbes and husband Rob Forbes, great-grandchildren Audrey Beadle, Walker Beadle, and Luna Forbes, and more than forty nieces and nephews who lovingly remember their Aunt Ruby.

Ruby’s life was a blessing to all those who knew her especially her family and church brethren. Her exuberant personality, kindness, helpfulness, godly nature, and her never failing love for family and the Lord is her legacy.