Ruby Josephine Seigel Armstrong's Obituary
Ruby Josephine Seigel was born on Indian Land in Oklahoma; close to Chetopa, Kansas, on December 19, 1923. Ruby Armstrong left this life in a hurry, contrary to her normal routine (a la indian time!!), on June 14, 2014 at St. Francis Hospital, in Tulsa. Her parents were Leslie Murray Seigel (a Delaware tribal indian) and Anna Emelese Barker (a member of the Cherokee Tribe). Ruby had 10 living brothers and sisters and they all had a job to do on the farm. Her father took a job with GRDA around 1939 and moved his family to Vinita, Oklahoma where the rest of his children could finish their education. Ruby graduated from Vinita High School in 1942, and married Julian Wilson “J.W.” Armstrong on November 14, 1942. Ruby and J.W. “Tuley” had four children; Rodney in 1944, Bob in 1946, Vicki in 1947, and Gary in 1950. They moved to Tulsa in 1951 so Tuley could work for McDonald Douglas. They moved to Broken Arrow in 1952. Ruby was busy in sorority; Epsilon Sigma Alpha in Broken Arrow for many years and volunteered at Gateway for five years. She worked for Seismograph in Tulsa for five years, then retired to be a grandmother, which seemed to be her favorite thing to do. Ruby was baptized as a young girl in the Baptist Church. She didn’t attend any particular church as an adult, but she reminds me of that phrase, “I’d rather see a sermon any day than hear one!” She had a beautiful smile and it was hard to get the best of her; she loved to joke around with the grandkids. It seems like there was always someone extra around our table, but there was always enough to eat. Everybody felt at home there and some kids were almost too comfortable, hanging around for days. Ruby took care of her mother and two brothers before their deaths. She made a lot of friends over the years and cherished their friendship. There was hardly ever a Thanksgiving, Christmas, or other celebration that we didn’t have ex-in-laws or friends to celebrate with us. She just said that; “They have been nice to me!” “They will always be family.” For years they babysat grandchildren when they were sick or just so their parents could work and loved every minute of it. She was proud of the accomplishments of each grandchild and praised them to others. Ruby is preceded in death by her parents, Les and Em, brothers, Leslie “Sonny”, Loyal “Buck”, and Gene; sisters, Helen, Betty, Shirley, Mary, and Jimi Lou; one son, Rodney, one grandson, Michael Shane Armstrong, and two nieces; Tracy Rodman, and Denise Franklin. She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Julian “Tuley” sons, Bob, and his wife, Donna, and Gary, and daughter, Vicki, and her husband, Louis. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and almost 5 great-great grandchildren, brother, Jerry Seigel, and his wife, Sharon, and lots of cousins, nieces and nephews who have been close to her and Julian. Her funeral service will be held at 12:30 PM, on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, at the Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel. This is not a service of sadness and regret for most of us; it is one of celebration and rejoicing.
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