Ruby Elizabeth Thompson

Ruby Elizabeth Willoughby Thompson

Ruby Elizabeth Willoughby Thompson of Orange died Sunday, November 1, 2009, at the Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville.

She was the daughter of the late Lillian Talley and Frank Jackson Willoughby. She was the widow of the late Walter Paul Thompson. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas William Willoughby and his wife, Lucille and Harry Franklin Willoughby and his wife, Helen; and by one sister, Louise Willoughby Wright and her husband, Charles, all formerly of Unionville.

Ruby attended Mary Washington College and graduated from the University of Virginia. She taught in Prince William for one year and in Orange County for 42 years. She was a former member of the Orange County retired Teachers Association and of the Orange Business and Professional Women's Club. She also was a lifelong member of the Unionville Christian Church.

Survivors include two nieces, Lillian W. Goodwin and her husband, Phil, of Orange, and Patricia W. Ballard and her husband, Bill, of Culpeper. Also surviving are one great-niece, Elizabeth Christine Ballard; and four great-nephews, Andrew Patrick Willoughby Ballard, Matthew Franklin Goodwin, and Charles Thomas Goodwin, all of Richmond, and Taylor Jackson Ballard of Culpeper.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, November 7, 2009, at the Unionville Christian Church with interment at the church cemetery. Pastor Charles Chilton and Pastor Joe Brummett will officiate.

The family will receive friends from 7:30 until 8:30 p.. Friday, November 6, 2009, at the Preddy Funeral Home in Orange.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Harry F. Willoughby Memorial Flower Fund or the Land Acquisition Fund, Unionville Christian Church, P.O. Box 26, Unionville, VA 22567.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Gordon Morris and staff and the 7th floor nursing staff of Martha Jefferson Hospital for their care of Ruby.

She desired to leave this thought; "Faith lifts up shining arms and points to a happier world where our loved ones await us." HELEN KELLER


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.