Ruby Nell Youngblood WRIGHT

1932 - 2016

WRIGHT,
Ruby Nell Youngblood
With her family by her side, Ruby Nell Youngblood Wright ("Wright") of Austin, Texas, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, November 6, 2016, at the age of 84. Ruby was born on July 19, 1932, to Georgia Mildred McFarland, just three months after the death of her husband, Richard Oliver Youngblood.

Ruby's childhood in East Austin reflected the modest means of her recently widowed mother. She often reminisced about the simple pleasures of her early life, such as watching her grandmother milk her cow, playing with paper dolls, riding stick horses, or going to the "picture show" to see Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, or Betty Grable. Other happy memories included going to Barton Springs on July 4th and lying in bed at night with her mother listening to such favorites on the radio as Jack Benny and Kay Kyser.

She attended Metz Elementary, Allen Junior High, and Austin High. Her favorite subjects were the ones that taught "office work," such as typing and shorthand. These skills later would later serve her well as she worked as a secretary for the Texas Department of Public Safety. She was also known to write her holiday shopping lists in shorthand, to ensure that young eyes would be duly surprised on Christmas morning.

Ruby met her husband, Frank Wayne Wright, as a teenager at Metz Park. Frank and his friends spent a lot of time at the café next door to her house, so Ruby used to sweep her front porch in hopes of seeing Frank walk past. If he didn't pass by, she would wait awhile and sweep it again. She would smile and tell us, "We had the cleanest front porch in East Austin!" They were married in the Govalle Methodist Church on July 29, 1950.

Ruby and Frank were soon blessed with the arrival of their daughter, Patricia Ann, followed by their son, Charles Wayne. Ruby would often remark that the greatest joys in her life were the blessings of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She could be spotted in the stands at many a football game, volleyball game, band concert, or marching contest, dutifully pointing out her talented child or grandchild to those sitting nearby.

Ruby's talents and interests were extensive and included collecting Depression glass at garage sales with her mother, every conceivable form of needlework, as well as baking and cooking (her Christmas fudge was legendary). Those who knew Ruby knew that she loved to dance. As a child she enjoyed jitterbugging with her sister, Annalee, and to the surprise of many, she "cut the rug" well into her eighties with fellow residents of Gaines Ranch. Ruby dearly loved Country music and was thrilled to have personally met such legends as Kenny Rogers, Glen Campbell, and Charley Pride (and she had the pictures to prove it).

Ruby was preceded in death by her mother, Georgia, her husband, Frank, and her sister, Annalee Bertram.

Ruby touched countless lives and will be deeply missed by those who survive her, including her daughter, Pat Berdoll and husband, Sebe, of Bastrop; son; Charlie Wright and wife, Carol, of Dripping Springs; granddaughter, Becky Berdoll of Austin; granddaughter, Katy Blankinship and husband, Houston, of Dripping Springs; grandchildren, Eliza and Dalton Wright of Dripping Springs; and great-grandchildren, Brooke and Cooper Blankinship.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Thursday, November 10, 2016, at the Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, November 11, 2016, also at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home. Interment will follow at 12:00 noon at the Lytton Springs Cemetery, with Pastor David Skinner officiating.

Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the Lytton Springs Cemetery Association, c/o Bobbie Meuth, 3073 Sand Holler Road, Dale, Texas 78616. The family extends its sincerest gratitude to the staff of Brookdale Gaines Ranch, and the medical staffs at Brookdale Westlake Hills and South Austin Hospital.