Mabel Holcomb Ruby

POULTNEY,Vt. -- Mabel Holcomb Ruby, 81, died suddenly Tuesday morning, Dec. 6, 2005, at Rutland Regional Medical Center.

Mabel was born Jan. 7, 1924, in Granville, the daughter of the late William and Lucy (Shaw) Holcomb. 

She was a 1942 graduate of Granville High School and two years later on Sept. 11,1944, she married her husband, Francis E. "Chich" Ruby at St. Raphael's Church in Poultney. After the couple were married, Mabel moved to Poultney, where she continued to make her home for the past 63 years.

Mabel was employed as a seamstress at the Poultney Dress Shop for several years until the time of their closing. She was then employed for Linda Lee Fashions for several more years, until her retirement in 1984.

She was a longtime member of the United Baptist Church of Poultney and the Dorcas Society of the church. She loved her church family and the "love of her life" was her family. She was a former member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union.

Mabel is survived by her two daughters, Pamela Hunter of Poultney, and Kathy Obst and her husband, John, of Queensbury; her sister, Frances Carter of Pattersonville, N,Y.; her three grandsons, Michael Hunter of Newmarket, N.H.; Timothy Hunter of Hanover, Mass.; Ryan Obst of Clifton Park; three granddaughters, Stephanie Wade of Wells, Kathy Hunter of Poultney, and Lauren Obst of Queensbury;  two great- granddaughters; and five great- grandsons. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, brother and sister-in-laws. 

She was predeceased by her son, Timothy Ruby, in 1971; her husband, Francis "Chich" Ruby, in 2001; her son-in-law, James Hunter, who died in January of 2005; and also by five brothers and a sister.

Visiting hours for family and friends will be held on Friday, Dec. 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Durfee Funeral Home, 119 North Main St., Fair Haven, Vt.

A funeral service will be conducted on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the United Baptist Church of Poultney at 11 a.m. The Rev. Norma Drosky, pastor will officiate. 

Burial will follow the service at Poultney Cemetery.  Following the burial, Mabel's family will receive friends and relatives for continued fellowship in the Town Room of the church.

Memorial contributions for those who wish may be made to the United Baptist Church Memorial Fund through the office of Durfee Funeral Home, P. O. Box 86, Fair Haven, VT 05743.