Obituary of
Rose, Rubye Lane Helton
Rubye Lane Helton Rose, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, died at her home in Dallas after a long illness on April 30, 2021. She was 90 years old.
Born in Natchez, Alabama, her mother was the town postmistress with the Post Office located in the front room of their home. Her father worked in the timber industry, drove the school bus and ran the family home place. Throughout the Depression the family raised most of their own food, keeping cows, chickens and pigs and growing vegetables and fruit. Rubye recalled learning to garden and cook from her mother and learning to sew by making underwear out of scratchy printed flour sacks.
When she was 18 she enrolled in nurses’ training at the Mobile (Alabama) Infirmary. There she met a handsome young doctor and Army Air Corps veteran named Roy Rose. They married in 1950 and eventually moved to Amite, Louisiana, where Roy joined colleagues to build a medical clinic. Seeking larger opportunities, the couple moved their family to Dallas, Texas in 1966. There, Rubye cared for their 4 children and the home while assisting with the business aspects of her husband’s practice.
Starting with a run-down rental house which the parents and children all helped rehab, they eventually developed a real estate business. Rubye provided day-to-day management of the properties for over 30 years.
She is remembered as a gifted gardener with “green hands”, a wonderful cook who threw lively parties and an avid bridge player with a competitive streak. An accomplished seamstress, she made school clothes, ballet and Halloween costumes and wedding dresses for her four children. She volunteered for scouts, school and dance organizations. A warm and loving woman, her mischievous spark would emerge at unexpected times, especially around her grandchildren. Rubye and Roy continued to enjoy weekly ballroom dancing to big band music until the very late years of their marriage.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Roy Ruben Rose, by her beloved daughter, Elizabeth Ann Sheppard, and by her brother, Arthur Helton.
She is survived by children Miriam Herndon (James Herndon) of Dallas, John Rose of Union, Oregon, Rosemarie Rose (Bob Meyers) of Alexandria, Virginia; grandchildren Lauren Glass of Chicago, Illinois, Adam Gain of Dallas, April Gain (Obed Manuel) of Denver, Colorado, and Sam Meyers of Alexandria, Virginia; sister Mary Hayles and brother Raymond Helton (Betty), all of Monroeville, Alabama; and sister-in-law Jo Helton of Irving, Texas. Blessed with an abundant family, other survivors include nieces, nephews, and descendants of her 58 first cousins.
In keeping with her love of a generous table and beautiful flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Feeding America (feedingamerica.org) or the Dallas Arboretum (dallasarboretum.org).
A Funeral Service in celebration of her life has been entrusted to North Dallas Funeral Home, 2710 Valley View Lane Dallas, TX 75234 on Friday May 28,2021 at 2:00PM, for live stream please use the the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88368459394
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Tribute Wall of Rose, Rubye Lane Helton
I was very sad to hear of Rubye’s death. What a lovely lady. We had the pleasure of knowing Rubye at Edgemere. Oleshegun took care of our father at times and we saw Rubye quite often at Edgemere. I am sorry for your loss of your matriarch.
Dianne Thomson Newsom
Thursday October 13, 2022
I was very sad to hear of Rubye’s death. What a lovely lady. We had the pleasure of knowing Rubye at Edgemere. Oleshegun took care of our father at times and we saw Rubye quite often at Edgemere. I am sorry for your loss of your matriarch.
Our family was so saddened to hear about the passing of “Miss Rubye”. She was a beautiful and gracious southern lady and always made you feel welcomed into her home.
Laura Jane Foulks Drew
Thursday October 13, 2022
Our family was so saddened to hear about the passing of “Miss Rubye”. She was a beautiful and gracious southern lady and always made you feel welcomed into her home.