Ruby Rish Bolton went home to be with the Lord on May 29, 2014, at the age of 92. Born in Lexington County, S.C. in 1921, Ruby was known as “Arbee” by many in the Pacific Northwest, where she lived since 1975. She was predeceased in 1971 by her beloved husband, the Reverend Winzor Lavon Bolton. The first daughter of William Marion Rish and Bertha Spiers Rish, Ruby was preceded in death by her 6 beloved brothers Raymond, Emanuel, Arthur, Harvey, Thurman and David, by her cherished sister Iva Bane, and two loving half-sisters Maggie and Mary. Her extended family in S.C. and N.C. have happy memories of many reunions and visits with Aunt Ruby.
Ruby graduated with honors from Brookland-Cayce High School in West Columbia, S.C., and from Columbia Bible College in 1947. Married in August, 1948, she served with her pastor husband in Southern Baptist churches in Georgia and Alabama in the late ‘40s through the early ‘70s. Ruby was also a school teacher, medical secretary and social case worker in Georgia and Alabama while helping her husband in church ministry. Having moved to Seattle in 1975 after the birth of her first granddaughter, Ruby adopted the nickname “Arbee” while working as a social worker there; she retired after more than a decade as a library assistant in the regional system operated by the University of Washington Health Sciences Library. Ruby was a teacher and mission leader in Seattle area Southern Baptist churches into her late 80s. She enjoyed her last years living independently at Crista campus and being welcomed into the home and family of her granddaughter Whitney early in 2014.
Ruby died peacefully after her family gathered around her bed in prayer and praise for her life of ministry. She is survived by her daughter Anne Thatcher and son Chuck Bolton (Angie); by granddaughters Tauryn Beeman (Todd), Whitney Harsh (David), and Lacey Larson (Eric). Her six great-grandchildren brought great joy to her last seven years: Linden, Rowan, and Acacia Beeman; Madeline and Olivia Harsh; and Luxy Larson.
Friends are invited to join with the family at her funeral on Tuesday, June 10, 2014 at Floral Hills Cemetery & Chapel, 409 Filbert Road, Lynnwood, WA. Burial will be at 3pm, followed by a celebration of Ruby’s life in the chapel at 3:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruby’s memory to Columbia International University (ciu.edu) in Columbia, S.C., to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (billygraham.org), or to the Christian ministry of your choosing.
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