Ruby Victoria Geneva, 105, of McAlester, died Thursday, January 29, 2015 at her residence.
The family will receive visitors from 5-7 p.m. Monday, February 2, 2015 at Bishop Funeral Service.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 3 at Bishop Chapel of Memories with Rev. Terry Lanham officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Memorial Park Cemetery, McAlester. Service arrangements are under the direction of Bishop Funeral Service.
Ruby was born October 27, 1909 to John William and Harriet "Hattie" (Leathers) Wilson in Tuskahoma. She met and married her first and only love, Dennis Albert Geneva, a WWI veteran, in Tulsa; and they celebrated 46 years together until the time of his passing.
In addition to raising their eight children, Ruby and Dee made their living farming and ranching. Ruby thoroughly enjoyed the role of mother and homemaker, but she also helped the family by working outside the home as a seamstress for Seampruf and Elsings. Ruby was talented and accomplished at tinting photographs, nursing loved ones, canning fruits and vegetables from the family garden, crocheting afghans, and quilting quilts for her family. She put others before self.
Ruby loved to travel and in 1975 she surprised everyone by taking a trip to Jerusalem and Egypt, visiting the places she had long read about in the Bible and history books. She even wore pants and rode a camel to the Great Pyramids of Giza which gave her stories that have entertained friends and family for many hours!
Ruby was raised in a Christian home and she instilled these same beliefs in her children. Ruby was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, a group of dedicated women and men who sincerely reflect the spirit of fraternal love and the desire to work together for good. She believed in charity and gave freely to missions throughout her long life. She was involved in sending clothing and sewing machines to the mission field and followed in her mother’s footsteps to "Feed the Children" worldwide.
It was her honor to serve as one of the founding members of the "Living Word Church" on Taylor Street in McAlester where she served her God and Church where ever called or needed.
She is survived by her children: Alice Hammond and husband, Ralph of Jacksboro, Texas, John Geneva of Mabank, Texas, Nettie Marcus of Cedar Park, Texas, Shirley Burgess and husband, Lester of Springtown, Texas, Conny Geneva and wife, Lois of McAlester, Quanah Schlesselman and husband, Steven of Edmond.
She is also survived by her family of grand- and great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends. and loved ones.
Ruby was preceded in death by her parents: John William Wilson and Harriett "Hattie" (Leathers) Wilson, her husband: Dennis Albert Geneva in 1975, and later by children: Patsy Nell Weaver and Dwight Dennis Geneva.
Pallbearers will be grandsons: Rodney Hammond, Dennis Geneva, Mark Geneva, Michael Geneva, Carrol Marcus, Tim Marcus, Bruce Marcus, Rick Weaver, Randy Weaver, Matt Thrasher, Jude Schlesselman, and John Schlesselman.
Memorial donations may be sent to: Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org); St. Jude Children’s Hospital (www.StJude.org); Ronald McDonald House Charities (www.rmhc.org) or to the charity of your choice.
