Obituary of Ruby Olive Wilie

Ruby Olive Wilie September 01, 1921 - November 04, 2009 Graveside services for Ruby O. Wilie, 88, will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 2:00 pm at Lovington Cemetery with Rev. Vergil Ichtertz officiating. Services are under the direction of Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home. She was born September 1, 1921 in Orlando, Oklahoma to Albert and Russia (Burnette) Beliele and passed away at Lea Regional Hospital in Hobbs on November 4, 2009. As a young woman, Ms. Wilie worked as a hairdresser in Arkansas before serving in the Woman’s Army Corps during WWII, primarily at the Paraplegic Hospital, Staten Island, NY. She received the American Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Service Plaque, WWII Victory Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. After she left the service she married William “Doc” Wilie on August 8, 1947 in Harrison, Arkansas. Her and her husband came to Lovington as school teachers in 1952. She retired from the Lovington school system after teaching at the elementary for 26 years. She was a well loved teacher. She was a resident at Merrell Gardens for 17 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband: William “Doc” Wilie; 3 sisters: Jewel Beliele, Irlean Oldenburg and Vera Phillips; and 3 brothers: Walter, Fred, and Leslie Beliele; and good friends John and Mickie Hogue. She is survived by good friends: Neda and husband Leon Faris, several other caregivers and former teachers of the Lovington schools; several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, and many friends.