Ruby Ernestine Heath

Ruby E. Heath, the daughter of Edward J. and Ida S. Jacobsen Wahlert, was born March 8, 1910, at her parents home east of Exira, Audubon Township, Audubon County, Iowa and died July 20, 2008, at the Exira Care Center in Exira at the age of 98 years, 4 months, and 12 days.
     Ruby was baptized at the Exira Christian Church.  She attended rural schools near Exira, then graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1929.  Ruby later took college courses at Drake University and Iowa State University receiving her teaching certificate.
     On December 21, 1929, she was united in marriage to Henry Garner Heath in Atlantic, Iowa.  They lived in Des Moines, Iowa for a short time and then made their home in Exira.  During this time Ruby was a homemaker helping to raise the children.  In the early 1950s she taught rural school in Greeley Township, Audubon County for six years and then taught elementary school at the Kimballton Public School for nine years until she retired.  During retirement Ruby and Garner did some traveling until Garner was unable to travel.  Garner died June 28, 1980.  Ruby then traveled across the United States for several years.  She enjoyed her home until she moved to the Exira Care Center in October of 2001.
     Ruby was a member of the Exira Christian Church where she was a member of the Ladies group and taught Sunday School.  She also secured and arranged flowers for the weekly church services.  She was a member of the Jolly 15 Club and the Exira Garden Club.  She was a volunteer for Congregate Meals.  She gave educational presentations on rocks for elementary school.  She gave nature hikes for 4-H groups, helped make blankets for Indians and was a certified judge for garden show competitions.  Ruby was the Audubon County Senior Volunteer for the Year and  received the Award for Dedicated Service for Ecology Field Day in 1986.  She had received top awards for flower arranging and specimens grown for the Exira Garden Club competitions..
     Preceding her in death in addition to her husband were an infant grandson Richard D. Heath; her brothers and sister:  Marvin and Edna Wahlert; Arnold and Willma Wahlert; Leonard and Irene Wahlert; Dayle Wahlert; Franklyn Wahlert and Florence Nelson; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law:  Don Adair; Ivan and Katie Heath; Clare and Eunice Heath; Robert and Lucille Heath; Esther and Charlie Gill and Adeline and Grant Phippen.
   Survivors include her children:  Richard D. and Iris Heath of Sandusky, OH; Sherri Reeves of Maryville, MO; Linda and Dale Nelson of Exira, IA; Paula and David Watz of Branson, MO; her grandchildren:  Brian and Marie Heath of Sandusky, OH; Bradley and Eve Heath of Naperville, IL; Jeffrey and Pam (Reeves) Heath of Long Island, NY; Kimberly and Shane Johnston of Raleigh, NC; Steve and Stephanie Nelson of San Diego, CA; John and Trish Helsel of Branson, MO; Heath and Heather Helsel of Fulton, MO; 15 great-grandchildren; her sister Ramona Adair of Denver, CO; her sisters-in-laws: Colleen and Fletcher Nichols of Atlantic, IA and Marsha Prigge of Audubon, IA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery.

Visitation:
The family will meet friends Thursday evening at 7:00 at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Robert Hennick on Friday, July 25, 2008, at 10:30 A.M. at the Exira Christian Church in Exira, IA