Ruby Inez West, 92, died Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, at Iola Nursing Center.
Ruby was born Feb. 20, 1922, in Paron, Ark., one of 13 children born to Henry and Virgie (Grimmett) Koon. She grew up in Paron and graduated from Paron High School.
On Sept. 22, 1942, Ruby married Arthur Lee West in Fort Ord, Calif., where Art was stationed with the Army. Ruby made her home in Iola and started her career as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell, which lasted 30 years. After Art was honorably discharged from the service, they made their home on a farm southwest of Moran. They lived in Denver from 1956 to 1962, when they returned to the farm. Art preceded her in death on Sept. 29, 2010.
She was a member of Paint Creek Church of the Brethren at Rural Uniontown, and the Moran American Legion Auxiliary.
She is survived by two sons, Dick West and wife Dixie, Elsmore, and Ralph West and wife Virga, Friend; four siblings, Sydney Koon, Iola, Almeda Fairhurst, Springfield, Mo., Dollie Kling, Little Rock, Ark., and Marian Cross, Kelso, Wash.; four grandchildren, Jena Parker and husband Scott, Shawnee, Aaron West and wife Meghan, Manhattan, Sarah West, Overland Park, and Amber West, Friend; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and eight siblings.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Waugh-Yokum and Friskel Chapel in Iola. She will lie in state Friday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Moran Cemetery.
Memorial gifts to the Wounded Warrior Project may be left with Waugh-Yokum and Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangements. To sign the guestbook online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
Ruby West
