Ruby Elizabeth Garabrandt

Ruby Elizabeth Garabrandt, 89, of New Philadelphia, died December 14, 2006, in Hennis Care Centre at Dover. A daughter of the late Samuel Pinkney and Lura Lee Wilde Fincher Willis, Ruby was born on November 6, 1917, in Charleston, South Carolina. On June 25, 1937, at the age of 19, Ruby married Cecil E. Garabrandt in Greenville, South Carolina.Ruby was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in New Philadelphia for 76 years, where she taught Sunday School classes for 50 years. Ruby was the church secretary for 25 years. As a camp counselor at Camp Big Prairie from the time she was a teen until her early seventies, Ruby had a love for teenagers. At the young age of 14, Ruby along with A. B. George started the French Hills Church that is still active today. She also taught bible studies to delinquent teens and led bible studies in nursing homes for many years. From 1967 to 1977, Ruby along with her husband owned and operated the Colonial Pitcher Restaurant in New Philadelphia. In later years, she enjoyed piecing quilts, which all of her grandchildren own a grandma’s quilt. She also enjoyed reading her Bible, going to church and spending time with her loving family.In addition to her husband and parents, Ruby was preceded in death by brothers, J.B. Willis, Ralph Willis, Bailey Willis, William C. Willis, Everett Willis, Joe Willis, Kadez Fincher; sisters, Ella Hill, Mamie Hall, Veleta Uptegraph, and Dicie Bear.She is survived by her loving daughter, Sonia (Harold) Clark of Fletcher, Ohio; granddaughters, Pam Bradley (Jerry) Putnam of New Philadelphia, Cindy Bradley Hill of Bellefontaine, Ohio, Lauree (Daniel) Simes of Troy, Ohio; great grandchildren, Sonia (Leo IV) Bradley Gleason of Scottsdale, Arizona, Nicole (Adam) McGhee of Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, Jordan Lee Hill of Troy, Ohio, Lucas L. (Sarah Newman) Hill of Troy, Ohio; six step great grandchildren; eleven great great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Martha Willis of Akron, Ohio, Bernice Fincher of New Philadelphia, Grace Willis of Greenville, South Carolina; and numerous loved nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and great great nieces and great great nephews.Visitation will be Sunday, December 17, 2006 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the Linn-Hert Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. Pastor Larry D. Fletcher will lead the Garabrandt funeral service on Monday at 11:00 a.m. in the First Assembly of God Church at New Philadelphia. Interment will be at Evergreen Burial Park at New Philadelphia.A reception will be held in the First Assembly of God fellowship hall following the committal.Memorial contributions maybe made to the First Assembly of God Church, 742 Cookson Avenue S.E., New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663