Ruby Irene Hale, formerly of Eldorado

Ruby Irene Hale, 87, of Litchfield, and previously of Old Broughton Road, Eldorado, died at 11:12 p.m. on Friday, June 29, 2018 at the Heritage Health Skilled Care Center on Litchfield.

Mrs. Hale was born in Harrisburg on May 3, 1931 to the late Rev. T.J. Whitby and Melvina Whitby.

Ruby was a very active member of Star General Baptist Church, where she was also a member of the Women's Missions Society. She sang in the Golden Star's Senior Choir and she taught Bible school and children's Sunday school. Mrs. Hale was a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

Mrs. Hale worked many years as a retail clerk at the Ben Franklin Store in Eldorado and she was a member of the Retail Clerk's Union Local 1000.

She is survived by her husband, Mr. William V. Hale, currently of Litchfield and previously of Eldorado; one daughter, Vickie L. Williams of Litchfield; two granddaughters, Nicole L. (Lucas) Rice of Sioux City, Iowa and Kacy L. Williams of Evansville, Indiana; and two grandsons, Theodore (Teddy) Rice and Gideon Rice of Sioux City, Iowa.

She also is survived by two stepsisters, Mrs. Carolyn (Pete) Medlin of Lone Oak, Kentucky and Mrs. Shirley (Frank) Medlin of Joliet.

She was preceded in death by four brothers, Elmer Whitby of Paducah, Kentucky, Clarance Whitby, George Whitby and H.T. Whitby, all of Texas; and one sister, Onedie (Cliff) Davis, also of Texas.

Visitation and funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at Watson Funeral Home in Eldorado. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until service time of 2 p.m.

Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery in Equality. Mrs. Hale's nephew, the Rev. Scott Luckett, will officiate.