Ruby Virginia Claiborne Childress entered into Glory, February 14, 2020, in Ooltewah, Tennessee. Born December 9, 1930 to Otey Taylor Claiborne, Sr. and Dicie McCarty Claiborne. Ruby attended school from age four, when her sister, Katherine started to school. The teachers said, “just let her stay, she’ll get tired of it and go back home soon enough.” To everyone’s surprise, she stayed with it, and graduated high school at age 16 in 1947. She attended one year of college, then started teaching school in Campbell County Schools, at Valley View Elementary School, at the age of 17, where she taught for her entire 63-year career. She married Clarence

Hoover Childress on August 13, 1960, and had two sons, Bill and Greg.  Ruby was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, sisters Eva Spessard (Sam) and Nancy Alma Claiborne, and brothers O.T. Claiborne, Jr. (Ruth), Claude (Sara Bet), Curtis (Loraine), Charlie (Beatrice), and Alex (Glenadine).

Ruby is survived by her sons and their wives, Dr. Bill Childress and Betsy, of Ooltewah, TN, and Dr. Greg Childress and Susan, of Richmond, VA, her grandchildren, Justin and Meredith, of Ooltewah, and Elizabeth, Merryn, and Ruby Cate Childress, of Richmond. She is also survived by her sister, Katherine Smith of Kingsport and her brother, Dr. Burgin E. Claiborne (Anne), of Memphis, and many dear in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Ruby was a lifelong member of Fincastle United Methodist Church, where she faithfully served the Lord in many capacities, including Bible Study, Communion Steward, pianist, and Choir Director for many years. Her service was honored by her church on “Ruby Childress Appreciation Day,” March 2, 2014 for years of faithful service to the community and the church.

During her teaching career, Ruby completed a bachelors’ degree from Lincoln Memorial University, a masters’ degree from Union College, and at age 69, her Education Specialist degree from LMU, after which she taught an additional 15 years. The first 20 years of her career were spent teaching grades 5-8, and in the earliest years, all four grades in the same classroom! The remaining 43 years were spent as a beloved kindergarten teacher, where she taught students to read years before it was a required standard. Besides a legacy that touched generations of Campbell County families, other honors Ruby received during her long career were the Horace

Mann Educator of the Year at VVES, Rotary Club Teacher of the Year, the WBIR Educator of the Week, and the Volunteer Times 2017 Community Choice Legacy Award. She retired in 2015, with the longest education service record in the state of Tennessee. She volunteered to teach reading at Wynn Elementary School in her first year of retirement. In 2019 the Valley View Elementary School Library was named in honor of Ruby, and a treasured colleague. When Alzheimer’s disease affected her safety and well-being, she moved to The Bridge at Ooltewah, an assisted living residence near her oldest son. She thrived there for 18 months, until she suffered a stroke in January.

Family will receive friends from Noon to 3 PM Sunday, February 23, 2020 at Fincastle United Methodist Church with service to follow at 3 PM with Rev. Steve Evans officiating. Interment immediately following in Fincastle Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Fincastle United Methodist Church, or to the Craig-Childress Library at Valley View Elementary School.

Condolences may be made online at http://www.cross-smithfuneralhome.com

Arrangements by Cross-Smith Funeral Home.