Wife of Fred A. Foote, mother of eight. Children; Patricia, Joan, Fred, Colleen, Connie, Jimmie, Jeannie, Clark.

She was named after her sister-in-law, Ruby McCuddin Ball, wife of her eldest brother Everett Carleton Ball.(child of her mother's first marriage).

She never like her middle name.


Ruby Elvira Woolworth was born on the family farm, in which her father built in the late 1800s. She grew up helping her father with growing,harvesting the crops, milking the cows, along with always enjoying the outdoors, swimming in the Floyd river, riding her horses, walking a mile to school in a one room schoolhouse, and at age 4 yr she sat on the steps of the house basement while they wired the home for electricity. She had a wealth of information when asked about any of the relatives, she new names, dates and children of just about everyone.

She would tell stories of her life growing up, meeting her husband Fred A. Foote at a barn dance on July 4th 1937. She was 18. Her father held barn dances on the week end nites to keep his children at home. Her and Fred were married on Jan 28, 1939, age 21 and the rest is history. They had 8 children and 35 grandchildren. At the present there are over 60 great and 5 great great with 2 more on the way.

Her and Fred spent 45 years in Sioux City raising their children until the job market was such that Fred had to venture out to California in 1963. He went on ahead and stayed with Ruby's brother Lawrence in Orange, Calif while Ruby stayed behind and sold off most of the household belongings. In June 1963 she was driven by her oldest daughter,Patsy, and her husband with the 5 youngest children to California. They never looked back. They had a good life in California, they bought a home, started a janitorial business and lived the American Dream.