Ruby Brown lived long life in all dimensions

To the editor:

Ruby Brown was over 60 when I first met her, a rather old woman, I thought. Since then I have changed my mind about age and lots of other things. She was the president of the Sunday school class I taught.

They did not allow either of us to resign. She came to class always prepared. I fussed with her, but she was good-natured and able to quote and explain. She continued to study the Bible daily. The only Sundays Ruby missed were those when a family reunion was planned.

Her business was Pontiacs and GMC. When her husband died, she continued. When her son-in-law died early in life, son Darrell took over the management. Her deepest loyalties were to her religion, her family and, of course, to her customers. Those who came inside the headquarters might watch her as she climbed steps to her upstairs office. Her talk was never of early retirement. Her pleasure was to provide good jobs for all who worked in the enclave. This loyalty to Ruby extended just as fully to non-relative employees as to kinfolks.

Ruby and Rush Limbaugh Sr. were friends. Limbaugh's specialty was poetry. Ruby, after I gave her books of poetry I had written, confided to me that she could not understand any of it. That's fine. I never learned how to sell cars.

Leonardo mused that "the life that is well spent is the long life." Ruby Brown lived a long life in all dimensions.

PETER HILTY

Cape Girardeau