Michael L. "Rube" Ruben

His name was Michael Lee Ruben, but he was affectionately known as "Rube."
A lifelong resident of Ripley, Rube received his heavenly wings on January 2, 2023.
He was a man of faith, who loved his family dearly and the countless friends he gained throughout his wonderful life.
He was born on June 13, 1958. He entered the world blessed to be the son of two loving parents in Wesley and Shirley Ruben. From the moment he was born, they were so proud of him and the man he would become.
He loved his parents deeply and was always striving to make them happy, which he did time and time again. Not only did he make them proud while they were alive but long after they passed away.
Mike is survived by a loving older brother, Dale, and wife, Camilla, of Ripley and his loving younger sister, Karen Sauer, and her husband, Don, of Bradenton, Florida.
Mike was a proud uncle to Jon Ruben and his wife, Lisa, of Morgantown, Ryan Ruben and his wife, Alyssia, of Ripley, Molly Murphy and her husband, Grant, of Charleston, Hayden Sauer of Tampa, Florida and Raegan Sauer Pitts and her husband, Christian, of Clermont, Florida.
He was a great uncle to Ainsley, Ella and Sadie Ruben (Jon and Lisa's children), Rhett, Ridley and Andi Ruben (Ryan and Alyssia's children) and Mack and JoClare (Molly and Grant's children).
Besides his family, Rube was loved by all who knew him. He was the City of Ripley's favorite son in so many ways. He was indeed "Mr. Ripley."
Rube was a 1976 Ripley High School graduate and then earned a degree in journalism from Marshall University.
He got his career started long before getting his college degree.
Rube became the public address announcer for Ripley High School football and basketball games while still in high school. He was the "voice" of Ripley's Memorial Stadium for 45 years. This past fall was his first away from announcing the happenings at the Home of the Vikings.
"It's football time in Death Valley. Let's bring on the Vikings," is an introduction Rube did on a whim one Friday in the '80s and it has been a part of Viking football lore ever since and will be for years to come.
Besides football and basketball, Rube also handled PA duties for wrestling, baseball and track and field for Ripley High. He also did numerous middle school and youth league events during his lifetime.
While relinquishing his football duties, he was still working other sports.
His final basketball game at the Ripley Health Center came on December 27, 2022 in the Hatchet on the Hardwood battle as the Vikings hosted rival Ravenswood. Ripley treated Rube to one final victory with a last-second buzzer-beater.
Not only did he do PA work for Ripley but also his beloved Marshall University. He was the "voice" for several years at old Fairfield Stadium and Joan C. Edwards Stadium for football in addition to basketball's Cam Henderson Center.
Besides announcing, Rube got his start as a journalist while in high school by writing for his hometown newspaper – The Jackson Herald.
Rube treasured the warm and friendly relationships he developed with Viking coaches, players, administrators and fans through the years.
He cherished writing about their many accomplishments.
Besides Jackson Countians, Rube enjoyed meeting so many people from other areas of the state and region, cherishing those friendships as well.
His sporting life involved coaching youth baseball where he was a part of two West Virginia state championship Babe Ruth (featuring 13-15 age group) All-Star teams. He also managed Senior Babe Ruth and American Legion teams (16-18 age group).
Later in life, Rube would serve proudly as the editor for both The Jackson Herald and The Jackson Star-News (formerly The Ravenswood News).
He chronicled the happenings of not only Ripley Viking teams but those at Ravenswood High School. In addition, he wrote volumes of news articles, human interest and feature stories.
He became a noted historian of not only his hometown but Jackson County as a whole.
Rube was the winner of an array of honors throughout his career as a writer.
In 2014, he was presented with the prestigious Distinguished Community Service Award for his years of dedication to making Jackson County a better place to live.
His professional life also included stints with West Virginia Media, The State Journal and The Parkersburg Sentinel. He also worked in public relations for Jackson General Hospital.
Rube's talented voice and writing skills made him a natural for radio. He was an award-winning news director for WTCR radio in Huntington/Ashland during the early '80s before returning to Ripley for the remainder of his life.
Rube did many games for WCEF-FM in Ripley over the course of time and in recent years co-hosted a podcast entitled "Viking 360" with Brian Johnson.
In 2014, Rube helped found and became director for the Ripley Convention and Visitors Bureau, which also houses a museum.
It was truly a labor of love for Rube, who was working at his office shortly before his passing.
Rube worked closely with Ripley's famed Fourth of July celebration, the Cedar Lakes Foundation, the Ripley High Athletic Boosters and countless other organizations.
The love he had for his hometown prompted him to write a play, "Ripley: The Man and the Town that honors his name."
Ruben not only wrote the play but directed and acted in the production. It was one of his proudest moments.
Rube would never have wanted any type of fanfare for his passing, but it is something he richly deserves.
Each day he set out to make Ripley and all of Jackson County a wonderful place to live and work.
His spirit to do so never wavered. In 2011, he suffered a stroke. His amazing grit and determination were something to behold and an inspiration for us all.
It was so important for him to fight back. After all, his daily hope was to see Ripley and Jackson County prosper.
Rube, who attended Calvary United Methodist Church, prayed for all in the community he loved to enjoy happy lives.
He was a champion for our youth and helped many to grow into outstanding adults and citizens. Ones who would, and are, making a difference. Just as he did.
Making others smile and laugh is something Rube did constantly with his incredible sense of humor.
There will never be another like him.
Ripley, Jackson County and beyond were blessed to have had Michael Lee Ruben the one and only "Rube."
In lieu of flowers, Mike's family and friends are asking for donations to be made to the Jackson County Community Foundation. Please make checks payable to JCCF, Inc. and memo for Viking Voices Fund. You may want to put "in memory of Mike Ruben."
Mail to: JCCF, Inc., 108 Church Street North, Ripley, WV 25271. You can also go to the website at www.jccfinc.org to make an online contribution to the Viking Voices Fund.
A funeral service to celebrate Rube's life will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, January 8th in the Ripley High School Auditorium. Visitation will be Saturday evening from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. in the Ripley High School Health Center Gymnasium. Private family committal service will be in the Jackson County Memory Gardens, Cottageville. Online memories and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.waybrightfuneralhome.com.
If you are unable to attend the service on Sunday, Mountain Top Media will be conducting a live stream that will be available by following this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81ugL1B-Y_s