Ruby Belle Rash

1914 - 2005

Ruby Belle Rash, 91, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2005, at home with family members at her side. The community lost another wonderful, beloved godly mother.

Funeral: 1 p.m. Saturday at Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington. Burial: Moore Memorial Gardens in Arlington. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Arlington Funeral Home.

Ruby was the oldest surviving charter member of Fielder Road Baptist Church. She and her late husband, Wesley, loved serving God through the church. They also helped start Northside Baptist in Arlington and Lakeside Baptist at Lake Whitney. She taught Sunday school for over 45 years.

She was born July 16, 1914, to native Texans Sarah Belle Penrod Lawrence and John Calvin Lawrence, who had taken their children to Oklahoma to share-crop. When John became ill, Sarah and the children brought their dad back in a covered wagon to Stonewall County. Five of her siblings and her mother died with heart disease at a much younger age than Ruby.

She was preceded in death by the family members mentioned earlier; her husband of 67 years, Wesley D. Rash; and a beloved son-in-law, James E. Willman.

Survivors: Brother, Gerald Lawrence of Abilene; sons, Lawrence (Laverne) of Arlington and Wesley Dale of Halfway, Mo.; daughters, Patricia Crabtree (Dave) of San Antonio and Glenda Pruitt (El) and Betty Smith (Tom), all of Arlington; 10 grandchildren; 12 adopted grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren: one great-great-grandchild; and dear friend, Jerri Blauvelt.