Ruby Leigh Greene

Ruby Leigh Alston Greene, 84, of Melbourne, Florida, passed away on November 1, 2025. Born in Windsor, North Carolina, on July 16, 1941, she was the daughter of Stanley Alston and Nettie (Gurganus) Alston.

Ruby was a shy child, growing up on a farm where she often said her father taught her to work like a man. She learned to drive a John Deere tractor before she even had her driver's license, and her driver's ed teacher remarked that she drove better than all the boys. Though shy as a child, Ruby's strength, will, and sense of class carried her into adulthood, where she was never afraid to take chances and never gave up on her dreams. Her determination and strong-willed nature were evident throughout her life, particularly in her career as a teacher and her involvement in the community.

Ruby graduated magna cum laude from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, in 1963, with a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences (formerly known as Home Economics). After college, she taught at Morehead City High School in North Carolina before relocating to Florida in 1964.

In Florida, Ruby's career in education flourished. She was a dedicated teacher who helped establish the Home Economics department at Hoover Jr. High School in 1965 and went on to teach at Merritt Island High School and Palm Bay High School. It was at Palm Bay High School where she made a lasting impact, not only as a teacher but also by founding the VPK 4 program for the Pirate Preschool. Ruby retired in 2008 after over 40 years of service in the education field.

Ruby was also an avid gardener, known for having the greenest thumb in Brevard County. She could grow anything, and her yard was a testament to her love for nature. She was a longtime member of the Melbourne United Methodist Church and a dedicated member of the Melbourne Branch of the American Association of University Women, where she served as president for several years and contributed to its mission of advancing education and equity for women and girls.

Ruby was the oldest of six children and is survived by her siblings: Camille (Ken) Specht (Palm City, FL), William Alston Jr. (Greenville, NC), Dale (Dave) Smith (Virginia Beach, VA), Beverly (Tom) Shumadine (Chesapeake, VA), and Thomas (Sandra) Alston (Windsor, NC). She was the loving mother of two children: son Harry (Hap) Thompson III and daughter Ellen (Kenneth) Sheehan. Ruby's grandchildren were a great source of joy to her: Alyssa (Steven) Petry, Matthew (Nicole) Durso, Taylor (Luke) Biggs and Angela Durso.

Ruby's loving husband, Thomas L. Greene, preceded her in death on June 9, 2021, after 40 years of marriage.

Ruby's legacy lives on in the many lives she touched, her dedication to her family, her passion for teaching, and her ability to grow both plants and people. She loved to travel the world, garden, and play tennis when she was younger, but above all, she was committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others.