Ruby E. Bryant

On Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at 10:15 pm, Ruby Evelyn Bryant, 102, danced into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Due to respiratory complications she entered the hospital a week earlier. After a day of labored breathing on Tuesday, she spent her last 3-4 hours listening via cell (speaker) phone to the love and encouraging words from children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. After showing no response to any stimulus for the entire day, we saw her eyes open several times (along with a few tears) as family shared their last words and memories of times together. During the final minute she became calm, opened her eyes wide, and looked intently upward. Then quietly and peacefully she stopped breathing and graduated into her eternal reward. So powerful and precious - both she and her home-going!  In the hours leading up to her passing, several individuals were given visions of what she would be experiencing.  One saw a young Ruby dancing in worship of Jesus in beautiful surroundings that could only be described as heaven.  Another saw her walking hand in hand with Jesus toward her heavenly home.  Whatever she is doing now, we know that it is without pain or discomfort as she experiences the joy that she had been anticipating.

On April 24, 1937 she married Kenneth M. Bryant in Warsaw.  He died in 2012.

Survivors include daughters, Loretta (Nathan) Eshelman of Lutz, Florida, Cindy (Jim) Tyson of Goshen, Tami (Chuck) Mohler of Syracuse, and Rita Lockerbie of Goshen; sons, Tim (Barbara) Bryant of Jackson, Tennessee and Todd (Angie) Bryant of Princeton; 23 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; and a sister in-law, Vera Deafenbaugh of Tucson, Arizona.

Along with her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Connie Lockerbie; grandson, Tyler Tyson; great-granddaughter, Cassia Martin; son-in-law, Ralph Lockerbie; sisters, Edythe Christner and Martha Ridgeway; and brothers, Randall, Hugh, Moyne and Donald Deafenbaugh.

Ruby was a member of West Goshen Church of the Brethren where she was active in women’s fellowship; teaching Sunday school, especially with the youth; quilting and sewing activities.  She was also a member of the Goshen Garden Club, City Homemakers Extension Club, and the local AARP chapter. She served on the local Farm Bureau board for many years and also volunteered as a “pink lady” at Goshen Hospital for more than 30 years.

Ruby and Kenneth enjoyed 75 years of marriage.  Many enjoyable memories were made at the family cottage on Waubee Lake near Milford, vacationing and travelling to Florida, to spend time with family and friends.

Friends may call Sunday, January 14, 2018 from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, 1911 South Main St., Goshen.

There will also be one hour of visitation prior to the 10 a.m. funeral service Monday, January 15, 2018 at West Goshen Church of the Brethren, 1200 Berkey Avenue, Goshen.  Pastor Norman Replogle will officiate.

Burial will follow at West Goshen Cemetery, Goshen.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the church.