AMHERST, Aug. 9 – Ruby Irvin Smith took Jesus by the hand and walked through the Gates of Heaven on Friday, August 5, 2011. Though she called Farmville home, in her reclining years she was a resident at the Odd Fellows Home and also Westminster Canterbury in Lynchburg. She died at the age of 92 at Fairmont Crossing in Amherst. Ms. Smith was born in Oak Ridge on October 2, 1918 to Mary Elizabeth Pugh and Thomas William Smith.

She graduated from Layne Business School in Farmville and had a successful career as a stenographer and a professional secretary. She was a secretary to Lawyer Fitzpatrick and she also worked at Camp Pickett. For many years she worked in Washington D.C. as a secretary in the Department of Veterans Administration. After her father died, she willingly gave up her successful career in Washington to come home to take care of her mother. Her skills again were sought after, and she worked at Longwood College as a secretary in the Department of Education for 18 years between 1962 and 1986.

Ms. Smith was proud to be a member of the Rebekah Lodge #87 of Virginia, and in 1994 she was awarded the Declaration of Chivalry. She was a faithful member of Farmville Baptist Church. She generously and quietly supported many benevolent organizations with her giving. She enjoyed dancing and traveling and going places. She especially loved the beach.

Her first love was her family. In her mind they were always going to get some big award because they were all so very special to her. She leaves behind a sister-in-law, Dottie Smith of Farmville; 12 nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and nephews, all who loved “Miss Ruby” dearly, Joanne Howard, Bill Parker and Mel Parker of Lynchburg, Shirley Brown of Madison Heights, Annette Farley of Staunton, Doug Fitzgerald of Richmond, Buddy Smith of Salem, SC, Vicky Burnette of North Myrtle Beach, SC, Gordon Smith, Stanley Smith and Lorraine Smith of Farmville, and Oscar Smith of Las Vegas, NV. She was one of nine children all who preceded her in death, four brothers, Lester, Smitty, Winkie and Linnie, and four sisters, Viola Parker, Claudia Scott, Virginia Jones, and Christine Fitzgerald.

Funeral Services were held at Puckett Funeral Home on Monday, August 8, with interment in Westview Cemetery.

Puckett Funeral Home, Farmville, was in charge of arrangements.

www.puckettfh.com