Ruby Mae Linton

Ruby Mae (Bland) Linton, age 80, passed away on May 5, 2023 at St. David's Medical Center, just forty days after her grandson, Anthony Kavanaugh, passed at the age 33. Her heart stopped during a routine dialysis treatment and the hospital staff was unable to revive her. She was an only child, born, July 9, 1942, in Austin, TX to Harold and Wanda Lee (Durst) Bland. A graduate of old Anderson High School in 1960, she went on to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) through the nursing program at Brackenridge Hospital, always being so proud to tell others that she had been practicing, with a focus on labor & delivery, since 1966.
Mrs. Linton, as she required everyone to address her, had a wonderful, atypical, highly privileged, life from childhood. She was a young, black girl being raised in segregated Austin, TX in the 1940's and 50's, alongside two, affluent, white children. Her mother was a housekeeper for Dr. and Mrs. Lang Floyd Holland, Sr.. Young Ruby would accompany her mother to work, spending her summers with her employer's two children. The family was generous and treated them well. Dr. Holland would facilitate access, for Wanda, into various places, including clothing stores, where blacks were not usually permitted. The clothes she purchased for Ruby would often leave others in the community wondering how she was able to secure such items. Ruby was not only treasured by her mother but, also loved and supported by her grandmother, Myrtle Ruth Ellison and aunt, Goldie Huddleston. The environment these three ladies provided, set the stage for her subsequent successes and the person she'd, later, become. Their love and her unwavering faith in God, was powerful enough to reinforce her own self-worth and confidence, along with the softness of her heart, that the cruelty of segregation and racism of her day, could have, so easily, stripped away.
Her earliest ambition in life was to have a family, with children, of her own. She encouraged everyone to have multiple as she knew the loneliness that accompanied being the only one. Her face lit up when a baby was born into the family, often, volunteering to help care for the new child. Her love was undeniable, her compassion and mercy, divine. All of her grandchildren adored her. Four of them grew up in her home. There was never a shortage of hugs and kisses, along with glances of admiration and approval. She was, often, extremely protective and "in their corner", even in the instances where they were wrong. She, repeatedly, taught them many lessons, spanning from never going anywhere without money, to preaching about boundaries and etiquette. Her love was patient and kind with some yelling in between.
In adulthood, after, becoming a nurse, she married the love of her life, a serviceman in the Air Force. As a military wife, it afforded her the ability to see the world, with her children in tow, and meet many different people, as she experienced their cultures. Living in the Philippines and England, alongside traveling to neighboring countries, she became a fan of foreign cuisine and exotic items. Family and friends knew there was no limit to her indulgence.
The love she had for rarity, beauty and people, set her on a path to become an antiques dealer. She could be found frequenting the thrift stores, searching for treasures and gifts for her loved ones. Her business, Linton's Collectibles, afforded her yet another opportunity to meet and speak with those she probably would not have met, otherwise. She was known to engage total strangers, always having a story ready to, expressively, tell. Her audience was, often, fascinated by her experiences and began,excitedly, chatting and smiling back as if she were an old friend. It was absolutely amazing to witness. That's just how she was, all the way up until her passing.
In addition to being a shopping, social butterfly, her other interests included gambling, specifically, bingo or video slots, playing games, watching movies, golfing, bowling, singing/swaying to the oldies, like Smokey Robinson's "Cruisin'" and reading the newspaper, while sipping hot tea or coffee with cream and sugar. She was a staunch Democrat who served as a delegate for President Barack Obama. And, was a sorority member of The Order of the Eastern Star, Mildenhall chapter.
Mrs. Linton is preceded in death by her father, Harold Bland, mother, Wanda Lee Floyd, son, Maxie George Linton, Jr., grandsons; Ryan Wesley Tucker and Anthony Clayton Kavanaugh. She leaves behind three daughters; Regina Williams, Rhonda Tucker-Dickerson (Floyd), and Yolanda Williams, grandchildren; Arlette Williams, Andre Kavanaugh (Cassandra Lynn), and Derek Wright, great-grandchildren; Donovan Parker, Kaylee Rowe-Kavanaugh, Maliyah Branch, Avah Kavanaugh, Ja'Den Stiggers, Ma'riaja Arnold and Deamecoe Arnold. There are many cousins and extended family originating from and/or currently residing in Lockhart, TX, Texas City, TX, in addition to, a scattering of relatives throughout the United States.
Mrs. Linton explained, before she passed, that what she loved most were her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her last message and final request (of them all) is to please, "remember me".
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com for the Linton family.