Ruby Mae Middleton

Ruby Middleton, 101, of College Station, formerly of Hilltop Lakes passed away on Friday, December 30, 2011. Funeral services will be held on January 4, 2012 at the Hilltop Lakes Chapel at 2:00 pm with visitation starting at 10:30 am. Rev. Tony Taylor will be officiating. Interment will follow at the Concord Cemetery in Iola, Texas. Services have been entrusted to Cozart Funeral Home.

Ruby was born on February 12, 1910 to John Burbin and Addie Rogers Rice in Iola, Texas. She spent her youth working on her parent’s farm and attending school. She graduated from Iola High School and married Joseph Lee Middleton. They spent the early years of their marriage traveling from one work location to another throughout the southern and mid-western states during the great depression. She then lived in Navasota, Houston, Hearne, Tomball, and Grand Isle, Louisiana; as well as Kingsville, TX and New Iberia, LA until her husband’s retirement from Exxon. They moved to Hilltop Lakes where she resided for more than forty years. Ruby enjoyed life to the fullest and was still able to make people laugh at 100 plus years old. She was a former President and Sweetheart and life member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and was awarded their Golden Circle Award. She was a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary, Hilltop Lakes Golf Association, and an avid Bridge player and played in many bridge clubs wherever she may happen to be living at the time. She was able to travel to visit her sons in Norway, where she enjoyed visiting London for several days, and Venezuela. She was a proud Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister, Auntie and In-Law to countless Texas Aggies in Various parts of Texas and Louisiana.

Ruby was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Middleton; both parents; a son and daughter-in-law Joe Newman and Diane Middleton; two brothers William Clarence Rice and John Monroe Rice; and three sisters Anna Bell Rice Allen, Essie Marie Rice and Mary Janet Rice Collins.

Survivors include son, Robert (Bob) Middleton and wife Bobbie, granddaughters Deborah Ann Middleton Richards and husband Jon, Kathryn Lyn Middleton Hudson; grandson Joseph Lee Middleton II; great grandchildren, Lance Jonathan Richards and wife Rachel, Brian Justin Richards and wife Kristin, Eric Jason Hudson, and Kelli Lynne Hudson Ramirez and husband Diego; brother Wilbur Lamar Rice, and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends from wherever her path has taken her.