Ruby Mitchell

She had two older siblings, Oyied “Toat” and Mildred “Pitter” Oliver. Following Ruby were Howard, Vivian, and Alfred, who everyone knew as “Punky.” For decades, all six gathered with their children (and later their grandchildren) for some truly family-sized summer picnics.

Ruby graduated from Jeff Davis High School in 1940, then studied at the University of Houston, where she was a top-ranked member of the archery team, and where she met her husband.

She married naval officer L Clyde Mitchell on July 7, 1945 in the Memorial Chapel on Harvard University campus, where he was stationed at the time.

They had three boys: David, Dennis and Don, who grew up in a quiet, typically 50s Houston neighborhood. She was a dedicated homemaker and an accomplished seamstress. She sewed clothes for herself and her sons, plus all of the curtains that hung in their homes.

Her life was devoted to her family. She always served good meals, but she really went all out for the holidays. She also enjoyed painting and gardening. Her yard was beautiful every spring, covered mainly with roses and azaleas.

Ruby loved children. She was always happy to watch her nieces and nephews, her grandchildren, and even the neighbors’ kids. She taught them, played games with them, and read stories from a large collection of children’s books.

In the early 80s, she took in her ailing mother and looked after her during her final years. Ruby was widowed in 2001 after 56 years of marriage.

Even in her later years, she remained a loyal Houston Astros fan, and was happiest when she was watching a baseball game. In 1962 she used a dental excuse to get her boys out of school and she took them to the city’s first major league baseball game: the Colt 45s and the Chicago Cubs. Fittingly, her 50th wedding anniversary celebration included an Astros game.

Ruby left us on February 3, 2015 after 93 years and seven days of love and life.