RUBY N. STAHL

RUBY N. STAHL, 86

LAKELAND - Ruby N. Stahl passed peacefully from this life into the arms of Jesus on July 25, 2016. Ruby was born on Dec. 29, 1929 at home in Grove Chapel, Rayne Township, PA to Rev. Clinton F. and Hazel Hildebrand.
Ruby was the Salutatorian of her high school and graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. from Bowling Green State University, Ohio in 1953. She married William 'Bill' R. Stahl in June of '53 who, after nearly 62 years, preceded her in death.
Ruby served as a speech therapist in Ohio and, following a family move to Florida in 1963, continued her career with the Polk County School Board from 1966 until retiring in 1991. She was the county's first speech therapist to serve Babson Pk. Elem. and the five Lake Wales area elem. schools. She concluded her career serving Garden Grove and Elbert Elementary Schools in Winter Haven.
Be it school, church, or community groups such as the Lake Wales Chorale, the Winter Haven Boca Magna Cantorus, Lakeland Choral Society, and the Colonnades Glee club, Ruby had been active in choral music since her teens.
Over the years, she was active in her church's women's groups. While a member of Church Women United, she received the Woman of Valor award in 2006. For many years she belonged to The Quilters making quilts for disaster victims.
Ruby is survived by her three children: Deborah (John) Walton, Gretchen (Mark) Lambert, and Kurt (Cathy Curran) Stahl; six grandchildren: Rebecca and James Walton, Rachel (Nick) Wirtz, Kali and Paul Lambert, and Olivia Stahl; two sisters: Helen (Paul) Myers and Constance (Robert) Critchlow; as well as many nieces, nephews, and their children.
Her memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on August 28, 2016, at Grace Lutheran Church in Lakeland, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Church Women United, c/o Mrs. J. Pettit, treasurer, 696 Hunter Run Blvd., Lakeland, FL 33809 or Cornerstone Hospice Care, 2590 Havendale Blvd. NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881.