Ruby Wilson Huntley

Ruby Wilson Huntley, a retired schoolteacher and wife of the late William Henry Huntley, Jr. died January 24, 2024, at 99 years of age.

 Ruby Elizabeth Wilson was born on June 17, 1924, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to the late David and Cora Curtis Wilson.  Her siblings were Opal Wilson Calomino and Doris Wilson Mackie.  After graduating from high school in 1942, she worked three years at the St. Mary’s Fall Canal (Soo Locks) that connected two of the great lakes. During this period, her goal was to work overseas.  Beginning in early 1946, she was a secretary for the U.S. War Department in Austria  for 18 months.  The next two years, she was a full-time student at Michigan State for business courses.   This prepared her to join the State Department as a secretary in 1950.  After a brief time in South Korea, she was assigned to Vietnam.

 She and William Henry Huntley met in Saigon, Vietnam in 1950, when each one was employed by the U.S. Government – Ruby as secretary at the Embassy and Henry as air attaché to France serving in the U. S. Air Force. They loved their jobs and enjoyed the social life.  At that time, only 100 Americans were based in Vietnam.  When Henry was assigned to a base in Long Island, New York in 1953, the couple married and then had two children – Pamela in 1954 and Billy in 1959.   During Henry’s Air Force career in several locations, the family always visited relatives and friends in Anson County at least annually.  Henry’s career took the family to Montgomery, Al; Honolulu, Hawaii; the Washington, D.C. area; and San Antonio, TX.

 When Henry retired as a colonel from the Air Force in 1970, the family moved to Anson County and joined First Methodist Church in Wadesboro. By this time, Ruby had earned education degrees from Huntingdon College and a master’s degree from Southwest Texas State (now Texas State University).  Ruby taught at elementary schools in Montgomery for two years and at San Antonio for two years.  Ruby taught fourth and fifth grades at Chesterfield Middle School in Chesterfield, SC for 20 years.

 On the mother’s side of the family, Ruby is directly related to William Brewster, who came across the Atlantic Ocean on the Mayflower ship.   Ruby is survived by a daughter, Pamela Huntley Turner and son, William Henry Huntley, III (Anne), seven nieces and nephews and several great nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by both sisters, Doris Mackie, and Opal Calomino; husband, Henry Huntley; and all four of Henry’s siblings.  There will be a graveside service in Eastview Cemetery on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at 3:00 PM, with burial beside her beloved husband.   The family will greet visitors at Leavitt Funeral Home from 5PM – 7PM, Tuesday, January 30, 2024.

 Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Wadesboro at 118 East Morgan Street Wadesboro, NC 28170.

 Arrangements are in the care of Leavitt Funeral Home.