Ruby R. Goodwin

Ruby Rose Gray was born September 26, 1911, the youngest of six children born to Lela Chambliss Gray and A.L. (Leon) Gray. The family lived in the farming community of Argentia, TX in Live Oak County. Around 1925, Ruby moved with her mother to Baytown, Texas, where she was able to continue her education at Robert E. Lee High School. After graduating, Ruby worked for the Reed & Strickland law firm, which is where she met her future husband, Victor M. Goodwin. Ruby left Baytown temporarily to attend The University of Texas in Austin. While earning a BA in English, Ruby worked various jobs, including secretary for the then locally famous Mrs. Pennybacker, benefactor and organizer for many charitable and society events. In the summer of 1937 she graduated with honors from the University of Texas and then married Victor M. Goodwin, formerly of Lampasas County, in the University Church of Christ in Austin. The Goodwin’s settled in Baytown, TX where Victor was an employee of the Humble Oil & Refining Co. During the years in Baytown, Ruby worked as a teacher and as Registrar at Lee College; raised two children, Morris and Kathleen (known to everyone as Sissy), formed a sewing club with several other women who were dear friends for years to come and a vital part of her social life; was an active member of The Church of Christ, moving from Virginia Street to Missouri Street Congregation, and then settling finally in the Lakewood Church of Christ Congregation of Baytown. The couple settled in the Brownwood Neighborhood on Burnett Bay. In the early 1960's, Ruby returned to college, attending classes mostly on weekends and at night, to earn her masters degree in English from The University of Houston. After earning her masters degree, Ruby taught English at Crosby High School in Crosby, TX for several years. During this period also, the family was forced to leave their much loved home on Burnett Bay due to the ravages of Hurricane Carla. In 1966, the Goodwin’s moved to Athens, TX where son Morris and his wife Pat and daughter Laura were living, and where Ruby obtained a position teaching English at Henderson County Junior College. The family attended the Palestine St. Church of Christ, where many dear friends and emotional support were found for the difficult last two years of Victor's life. Victor passed away in 1968 after a long battle with cancer. Ruby continued teaching during the school year, and spent summers attending summer school programs just for the pleasure of learning, including the University of Washington at Seattle, Southwest Texas University, and University of Texas at Austin. She remained active in church and volunteered for the local hospital auxiliary. In 1974, Ruby took early retirement and moved back to Austin to help care for youngest grandson, Aaron. Ruby reconnected with friends and relatives in the Austin area. After Kathleen graduated, Ruby began a period of political and civic activism. She was active for such organizations as the Travis County Democratic Women, Common Cause, Voter Registration & a variety of local campaigns, including the effort to establish the Blunn Creek Preserve. She was also able to travel in later years, spending time in Japan, England, Ireland, and Scotland, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, and Australia-New Zealand with various family members. Ruby received a lot of assistance from the Texas Commission for the Blind. She and the family are deeply appreciative of that support, and of the excellent care and support provided by employees of Kelly Assisted Living Services, Bettie Ras, and finally Eden Home of New Braunfels. Ruby was preceded in death by her parents, all five of her siblings, two nephews, and her husband Victor. She is survived by her son V. Morris Goodwin and his wife Rosemary; daughter Kathleen DuBois; grandchildren Laura Goodwin and husband Martin Garcia; Greg Goodwin and wife Lisa, and Aaron DuBois and wife Heather Harris; and great-grandchildren Rebecca Garcia and Ryan Goodwin; along with nine much loved nieces and nephews and their families. Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 PM, Monday, June 14, 2004 at Wilke-Clay-Fish Funeral Home. Private family interment will be at Oaklawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Athens, Texas. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the Texas Commission for the Blind, 7517 Cameron Rd., Suite 120, Austin, Texas 78752. Arrangements by Wilke-Clay-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 S. Congress, Austin, TX 78704 (512) 442-1446. You may view memorials online at wcfish.com