Ruby Gertrude Ford Steele

Ruby Gertrude Ford Steele, 92, of College Pines, Valdese, NC, died Saturday, December 2, 2006 College Pines Rehabilitation Center following a year of declining health. Born March 28, 1914 in Watauga Co., NC, Ruby was the 5th of 7 children of the late Cordova Smith Ford and Laura Alice Hamlet Ford. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Eagles Steele; her beloved son, George Robert Steele; three brothers, Jesse Bynum Ford, Arnold William Ford, and Rodney Allen Ford; and two sisters, Lillie Ford Ford and Retha Belle Church Perrell.

Mrs. Steele was a housewife, as well as a loving mother and grandmother to four living generations that will miss her. Her love of flowers and nature were her passion and she could make anything grow. Her flower gardens and helping others before herself has been her entire life. She loved her family and her eyes would light up with her grandchildren would visit.

After her husband’s death she made her home with 2 sisters, Retha Perrell and Connie Ford until Retha’s death. She then lived with her daughter until she required an assisted living lifestyle. She has been at College Pines, Valdese, NC since March of 2001.

Ruby was a member of Cross Memorial Baptist Church.

Ruby is survived by one sister, Connie Lois Ford of Autumn Care of Drexel, NC; two daughters, Nancy Sue Steele Smith and Alice Pauline Steele Lehn, both of Morganton; seven grandchildren, Bruce Coleman Smith and wife, Susan, of Morganton, Vickie Joyce Smith of Morganton, Varda Alice Smith Giordano and husband, Ralph, of Goldsboro, NC, Nancy Jean Smith Reed of Morganton, Debra Ann Lehn Heintzleman and husband, Tom, of Grand Rapids, MI, Michael Anthony Lehn and wife, Chasity, of Morganton; and Susan Denise Lehn of Morganton; seven great-grandchildren, Nikki Carswell, Katy Hankins, Kenneth Giordano, Kelly Heintzleman, Ryan Heintzleman, Phillip Stockton, and Olivia Grace Lehn; and four great-great-grandchildren, Dawson, Dylan, Derrick, and Megan Carswell.

The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 5, 2006 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with Reverends Clyde Buckner and Jerry Campbell officiating. Burial will follow in the Steele Family Cemetery in Lenoir, NC. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. At other times, the family will be at the residence of the Nancy Smith, 2630 Old NC 18, Morganton. Memorial contributions may be made to Cross Memorial Baptist Church Bus Fund, 650 Enola Road, Morganton, NC 28655.