Ruby Iowa Becker went to be with her Lord on December 26, 2012. Ruby was born in Jamaica, Iowa on October 20th, 1915; she was 97 years old at her death. Her parents Alva and Angie Wirt soon moved the family to a farm in Panora, Iowa where she spent her youth. She moved to Redfield, Iowa to her grandparents' home to finish High School and to attend Simpson College, to become a teacher. She then returned to Panora to teach in a one room school house where she had several of her younger siblings as students. A few years later she met her future husband, Elmer Becker in Lake City Iowa, and was married later on the farm in Panora. Ruby and Elmer lived in Lake City where their oldest child Terry was born in 1941. In 1942 the three of them moved to San Diego, California so that Elmer could work in defense work at Consolidated Aircraft (Convair) building airplanes, while Ruby took care of Little Terry. In 1945 second son James was born while the family was still living in Linda Vista. In 1950 the family moved out into the countryside of San Diego to Spring Valley, where Ruby lived until her death. Ruby and Elmer became charter members of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Spring Valley in 1951, where they were active members. Ruby went back to College at San Diego State to get her teaching credential for California in 1959, and then taught at Casa de Oro Elementary for 27 years as a Kindergarten teacher. Ruby loved her students and did many special projects with them. When she started to teach children of her previous students she decided it was time to retire. So, she retired and then volunteered in the kindergarten classroom for another 7 years!
One of Ruby's passions was writing poetry, of which she wrote thousands. She belonged to the Showcase Writers Club in La Mesa and was very active in the Club and enjoyed it immensely. Ruby never lost her Iowa roots; they made trips with the boys every year back to Iowa to see all of her siblings and also South Dakota to see Elmer's family. Her other love was camping, which started when Terry and Jim were young, and continued through their retirement years with their grandchildren in tow. They belonged to the Good News Travel Club which started at Trinity Church. They enjoyed being camp hosts at Benbow State Park in Northern California. Ruby loved to collect rocks of all kinds and shapes whether camping by a river in the mountains or out in the desert, which included dune buggies when the boys were young. Ruby loved to dance at the Senior Center and she and Elmer were Mr. and Mrs. Spring Valley in 1988. Ruby was also active in the Spring Valley Historical Society.
Ruby and Elmer lived their lives around their grandchildren, taking them camping, on motor home trips across country, or to the beach to collect rocks AND shells.
Ruby is preceded in death by her husband of 59 years Elmer Becker and is survived by two sons, four grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3902 Kenwood Dr., Spring Valley, on Saturday January 12, 2013, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to Trinity Christian School, 3902 Kenwood Dr. Spring Valley, Ca. 91977. Donations will go toward scholarships for Kindergarteners, Ruby's favorite students.
