NEWARK – Ruby Pearl Tignor Riedel, 91, passed away at her home on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023.
She was born in Newark, Ohio, the daughter of Ruby Pearl Roberts Tignor and Ralph Edward Tignor. She joins her husband of 63 years, Alan Ellis Riedel, who passed away in 2016.
Ruby graduated from Newark High School and earned a bachelor's degree in education from Ohio University in 1953. She was the first of her family to attend college, an achievement she and her parents held with pride.
During her second week as a freshman collegiate living at Bryan Hall dormitory, she met Alan at a campus mixer, as well as seeing him deliver sandwiches and snacks to campus dorms for students after curfew. She didn't know she had met her future husband, who also was known as the "sandwich man." Ruby commented many times how she was smitten by this young man's hard work ethic and drive to provide for himself, a quality both Ruby and Alan continued as they provided for so many during their marriage.
Ruby dated Alan throughout her stay at Ohio University, enjoying great friendships while becoming a resident adviser at her dorm. Today, you will find the Ruby Riedel Garden, honoring her commitment to keep her dorm and surrounding grounds beautiful for future collegiate women who stay at Bryan Hall. As Ruby would always state, she loved her days at OU and her heart belonged to the Ohio Bobcats.
Two weeks after Ruby graduated, she married Alan and started her teaching career as a second-grade teacher in Cleveland, Ohio while Alan worked on completing his law degree. The frugal young couple worked tirelessly in their early-married years, forming a work ethic of financial planning that would benefit them in their later years.
After four years in Cleveland, they started their family with the birth of their first son, Ralph, and three years later their daughter, Amy, was born. In 1960, Alan left the law firm and accepted a job in Mount Vernon as general counsel for Cooper-Bessemer, later known as Cooper Industries. In Mount Vernon, Ruby settled in as a full-time mother in their home together. The couple completed their family with the birth of their third child, John. Ruby enjoyed being a mother of three, enjoying the small-town lifestyle and living in her home state of Ohio.
It was in 1967 when Ruby and Alan moved to Houston, where she made more life-long friends. Her heart remained in Ohio, but she quickly made their new home a place for the three children to thrive. As the children grew and became more independent, Ruby stayed in her field of education by joining the staff at Stratford High School as a counselor's secretary. She also found time to serve as the minister's secretary at First Congregational Church, a lovely and warm place where the family worshipped for many years.
While her children set roots in Houston, she kept the family connected to Ohio with annual summer trips to Newark, Ohio, where they would stay for two months. These trips hold many fond memories of day trips to Mount Vernon, to Ohio University in Athens, and time with local family and friends.
Ruby and Alan highly valued education. They were founders of the Cutler Scholars program at Ohio University, which provides scholarships. Their personal contribution provides one full-ride scholarship to a graduate of Newark High School every four years and an additional full-ride scholarship to a graduate of the Bellaire, Ohio, region. More than 20 students have been awarded a Riedel Cutler Scholarship to date. In addition to this, Ruby and Alan fully funded each of their children's and grandchildren's college education, including assistance with many extended family members' educational needs.
Ruby's love of sports started as a child as her father played baseball in a minor league in Newark, Ohio. One of her favorite memories of her dad was traveling to Cleveland to watch Indians games. Her love of baseball continued, as she became an avid fan of the Houston Astros. She even had early thoughts of becoming a sports announcer. Through the years, Ruby stayed true to her Bobcats by attending at least one Ohio University football game every year, as well as rooting for the Ohio State Buckeyes, when they were not playing against OU.
Ruby loved to gather with friends, as she was an enthusiastic host for several parties, bridge luncheons and dinners in her beautifully decorated homes, as interior design was a true passion of hers. Ruby was happiest when surrounded by her family and friends, with, of course, wine and cheese!
Ruby loved to travel. With Alan, she enjoyed fantastic trips, including an "around-the-world" voyage on a chartered Concorde, as well as many cruises to faraway places. From the many driving trips to Ohio to her adventurous nature of travel, she still had time to be active in her community and volunteer her time.
As a young girl, she was treasurer for the Ohio chapter of the Order of the Rainbow for Girls, and a 50-plus-year member of the Order of Eastern Star. Later in life, she became a longtime member of the Assistance League of Houston, a member of Lakeside Country Club, a member of Mount Vernon Country Club, a member of the Knife and Fork Club and a member of two churches, First Congregational Church and Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church.
Ruby loved her family. From the annual family trips, numerous birthday parties and dinners, to her annual favorite as Grandma Santa, she loved gifting and being together to celebrate life.
Ruby is survived by: her three children, Ralph, Amy Riedel Bone (John) and John (Betsy); and eight grandchildren, Jennifer Riedel Stockhausen (Sean), Ralph Riedel Jr. (Emily), Matt Riedel (Meredith), Christopher Bone (Gabriela), Michael Bone (Marianne), Alyssa Riedel, Ben Riedel and Matthew Riedel. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 101 Bering Drive, Houston. Ruby's celebration of life service is to be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, in the chapel of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 11612 Memorial Drive, Houston, where Senior Pastor Alf Halvorson is to officiate. Family and friends will gather at 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 6, for the interment at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Newark, Ohio.
While flowers are appreciated, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in her name be directed to the Alzheimer's Association, Attn: Donor Services, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601; or to Assistance League of Houston, P.O. Box 79668, Houston, Texas, 77297.
Please visit her online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com, where fond memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with her family.
