Ruby Jeanette Gebhart, 86, of Taylorville, formerly of Stonington, died at 10:30pm Friday, September 9, 2011 at Meadow Manor Nursing Home, Taylorville. She was born March 7, 1925 in Stonington, the daughter of Otto F. and Frieda Furstenberg Young. On June 15, 1947 she married Arthur W. Gebhart in Stonington and he preceded her in death on January 24, 1978. During World War II she worked at the McDonald Aircraft Company in Decatur and then taught in the one room Old Stonington School until she married and raised her family while helping as a farmwife.
Ruby was a member of the Stonington United Methodist Church where she was a member of the choir for many years. She was a member of the United Methodist Women and served for a number of years on the District United Methodist Women Board. She was a graduate of Blackburn College receiving Associates Degree and served on the boards of the Blackburn Alumni Association. She was very active in the Christian County Home and Community Education, Christian County Farm Bureau, Christian County Lady Land Owners Association, and Bridges Mentoring Program. She was a member of the Christian County Farm Bureau, The Christian County Farm Bureau Women for a number of years serving as chairman for several of those years. Ruby served with the Christian County Soil and Water conservation District, was a member of the Christian County Home and Community Education Association and the local Stonington Night Unit of the H.C.E.A. She served eight years on the Illinois Farm Bureau Women’s Committee representing District 11. She had also been a 4-H leader in Stonington for several years. Ruby gave her time and leadership generously to numerous organizations and those in need. She made hospital gowns for premature babies, knitted mittens and blankets for those who needed them, and made turbans for cancer patients. She spent countless hours quilting for herself and others. Her children and grandchildren were among her greatest treasures.
Surviving are her children: Pennie (John) Crinion Downers Grove, IL, Paul Gebhart of Edinburg, and Rebecca (Bob) Steiner of Taylorville. 5 Grandchildren: Cody (Shawna) Gebhart of Marion, Molly (Sam) Williams of Benton, Maggie Gebhart of Taylorville, Monica Crinion and Maureen Crinion of Downers Grove, two Great Grandsons, Cohen and Beckett Gebhart of Marion. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, granddaughter, Angeline Crinion, Brother, Maurice Young, and two sisters, Velira Moore and Pauline Young.
Funeral services will be held at 11am Tuesday, September 13, at the Stonington United Methodist Church with Rev. Ray Radae officiating. Burial will be in Old Stonington Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5pm-7pm Monday at McClure Funeral Home in Taylorville. Memorials may be made out to the Stonington United Methodist Church, 304 N. Elm Stonington, IL 62567.
The McClure Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
