Ruby Estella (Babcock) Van Horn 1911-1999
Categories: Milton College Graduate,
North Loup, Nebraska,
The Sabbath Recorder Obituary"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 222, No 2, p 25, Feb., 2000.
Ruby Estella (Babcock) Van Horn, 88, died on November 20, 1999, at Meriter Park Hospital in Madison, Wis.
She was born on May 10, 1911, in North Loup, Neb., the daughter of Rolla O. and Estella (Greene) Babcock. She attended schools in North Loup and Scotia, Neb., graduating from Scotia High School in 1929. Following graduation, she taught in a one-room rural school for one year. In 1930, she entered Milton (Wis.) College. After her mother's death two years later, she returned home to "keep house" for her father on the family farm, and taught in the elementary school in Scotia.
On September 11, 1834, she married Paul E. Van Horn in the family home in North Loup. They moved to Milton but spent most of their married life in Beloit, Wis. When their children were older, Ruby returned to Milton College, graduating Cum Laude in 1959 with a B.A. degree. She taught in the Clinton, Wis., school system until retiring in 1974.
While in Beloit, Ruby was active in her church and community, serving two terms on the Beloit School Board. They spent several of their retirement years in a cottage on the Wisconsin River. During this time, Ruby was active in church and community affairs in Mauston.
In 1983, they moved to the Methodist Retirement Center. Ruby and her husband served as co-editors of The Center Post, a publication of the Resident Association, which she headed as president for two terms. Music was always Ruby's major interest, and she played the piano for the Center's Sunday evening vespers.
In addition to her husband, Paul, survivors include two sons, Charles of Rohnert, Calif., and Richard of Aloha, Ore.; one brother, Orville Babcock of White Cloud, Mich.; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held on November 28, 1999, in the Meriter Health Center Auditorium, Madison.