As a young child Ruby's family had always gone to church. When grown up and marrying they stayed in the church and helped with lots of projects. One project was a large hilltop cross that was a beacon to the area. They also gave the church a beautiful piano and helped young people go into the ministry. When the church helped the Vietnamese people learn English, Ruby was their teacher at 93 years old.

After each service Ruby would stand in line to greet the minister. He would say, "Who is this little lady?" Then she would put up her long slender hand and wiggle her fingers and say, "Look, no aches or pain and no arthritis." Then she would get a big hug from him. He was tops with her. When the church got an assistant woman minister she didn't like it and said only men should be in the pulpit. She showed them by going to the downtown church when the lady preached.

She told her friends Marian and Bill how she felt, but they couldn't talk her out of it. They still sat together and laughed and were friends. Marian said Ruby wouldn't go to sleep because she might miss something, and that was true in church too. She just sat quietly, even though she couldn't hear much of the sermon.

Everyone hugged Ruby and treated her like royalty because she was the oldest senior around. Joe, a good friend, always kissed her hand.

There was a thrift shop connected with the church and we stopped in often. Ruby said it was more important to be neat and clean than to wear fancy clothes. Mainly she needed things to keep her warm.

They had special people in the church that looked after others and visited them. Doris always brought food from her garden or flowers. All of them were pleasant and kind.

One day Ruby said, "It is important to be friendly with your neighbors and greet them when they move in." Being an older neighborhood, she knew everyone.

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Miss Muriel