Rubye Lynn Dobbins Thomas

Rubye Lynn Dobbins Thomas transitioned to join her family and friends who passed before her on Sept. 14, 2025. We envision holy celebrations right now, especially with her youngest daughter Stephanie, who died five years ago.

Rubye Lynn was born in Millington, Tennessee, in 1940, and graduated from Bolton High School in 1958. She was a fearless and knowledgeable risk-taker: riding the biggest and fastest roller coasters, flying upside down in small planes and driving fast cars fast. She spent countless hours dancing, once appearing on the stage of the Mid South fair just before Elvis. College was indeed a change of pace, a bit boring, but she went anyway to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She chose ADPi as her sorority, represented her college in student government and graduated with a B.S. degree in child development in 1962. She and Bo's first date was a sorority dance on a snowy night in January of 1959, and they have been dancing through a blessed life from that moment on.

Rubye Lynn taught third grade for a year and then she and Bo married on Oct. 10, 1964. They began their married life in Chattanooga where they had the opportunity to work with beautiful teenagers at First Centenary United Methodist Church for three years. Believe it or not, they were fondly known as Bo and "Peep." She taught a Bible study class that grew exponentially with cadets from Baylor and McCallie Schools after she started teaching.

At Rubye Lynn's insistence, they were off on another adventure with three years of graduate school for Bo at Ohio University. They then moved to Conway, Arkansas, where Bo taught at the University of Central Arkansas and Rubye Lynn led the Child Development Center program for three- and four-year-olds. She was delightfully engaging with children, her own and others. She was quickly elected president of The Faculty Wives Club, leading the organization into the 20th century of strong women. Rubye Lynn also connected with a small community of talented, strong and influential women in Conway, and they would become life-long friends. RL, RL a nickname she picked up because nobody could get Rubye Lynn right, learned to play tennis with the encouragement of Bo and close friends. This former cheerleader had never run for extended periods before and had to learn to stop holding her breath till the tennis point was over. She and Bo became one of the few married couples who could actually play mixed doubles with joy. The reason? RL told Bo she would always be doing her best, she could manage her side of the court, and if he ever fussed at her, that would be it. In short, they won a lot of tennis championships with nothing but high fives.

The life of adventure continued with a move to Nashville in 2003 when Bo was invited to be the vice president for advancement at Belmont University. Rubye Lynn was a great fit for the bold dreams and strategic thinking and acting of Belmont. The "Why Not Us" Belmont loved the "Why Not" dream-big nature of Rubye Lynn. Rubye Lynn was also fiercely independent. She loved her quiet time alone or with her favorite dog, 85-pound Airedale, Pilate. She was an amazing numbers person and a whiz at Sudoku puzzles. She was also an incredible host and master chef. Her dinner parties were famous, and her recipes were widely shared with friends and family.

For Rubye Lynn, at the end of the day, it was all about family. They quickly moved to Memphis in 2015 after Bo retired from Belmont. Grandson Bo was four, Elizabeth was a professor at Rhodes and son-in-law Chris was an IT security professional who could work from home. Brothers, a sister and a big family awaited. RL became laser focused on those she loved, and she was the best Danna ever for grandson Bo.

Rubye Lynn's family and friends have been blessed by her sense of equity, fairness, humbleness, grace, passion for thrilling new adventures and unconditional love. No one was more loyal or supportive. She inspired everyone to live and dance better. And she is still dancing. As the spirit of the living God surrounds us, so does the spirit of Rubye Lynn. We will find her when we look through new lens. We will see her in the beauty of nature all around us, in sunrises and sunsets, and with animals and butterflies.

Rubye Lynn is preceded in death by her daughter Stephanie, her parents, Rubye and Hamp Dobbins, her brothers, Claude Morris Dobbins and Hamp Dobbins, Jr. Those who will have to learn to live more into her loving, graceful and witty spirit without her physical presence are her husband, Bethel (Bo) Evans Thomas, Jr., her oldest daughter, Elizabeth (Chris and Bo) Thomas, her sister, Carol (Steve) Nokes, brother Laurence (Kelly) Dobbins, her sister-in-law, Carolyn Roper, along with several uniquely talented nieces, nephews, cousins and many treasured friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be sent in Rubye Lynn's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, The Jimmy Carter Center in Atlanta or the charity of your choice.