Ruby Perry Smith

***Update*** There will be a special service for honoring the life of  Ruby Perry Smith on Sunday January 9, 2022 from 1:00 PM at the Yocum Institute, 3000 Penn Ave, West Lawn, PA

All are welcome.

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Ruby Perry Smith, 81, of Reading, PA, formerly of Coatesville, passed away Thursday, October 14, 2021, at Reading Hospital in West Reading, PA.

Born in Coatesville in 1939, she was the daughter of the late Delia (Alston) Perry and Edward Perry, Sr. She was the wife of R. Earl Smith with whom she shared 62 years of marriage. 

Ruby attended the James Adams School and was a graduate of S. Horace Scott Senior High School.

Ruby started her work career in the clerical pool in 1957 at Lukens Steel Company in Coatesville, PA.  Her career there ended as an executive secretary in 2002, with many jobs in between.  She was still using those skills at the time of her death. 

While living in Norristown, Ruby worked at Lee Tires and two law firms. Upon moving to Reading she also worked for a law firm. She also worked 24 years at Metropolitan Edison, retiring in 2002. She started as an Intake Clerk in Human Recourses and spent most of her employment as Executive Secretary in an Executive Office.

Ruby was a people person from early on to the end.  If she could help, she would; often neglecting her own health.  She was a wife, parent, and community volunteer.

Ruby could cook, can, bake, sew, clean and do yard work as required.  She was a repair person. She loved to plant flowers just to watch the bees and hummingbirds do the cross-pollinating. She was known to be unorthodox – causing her to take the long way home – but she always made it.  She loved to sing.  She sang with many choral groups, including Sweet Adelines and the Mt. Gretna Mass Choir.  She took bus trips to enjoy religious drama and singing.

She never saw a community volunteer project that she did not wish to be a part of including: the soup kitchen at anybody’s church, Berks Jazz Fest, the Reading Civic Theater, and other acting groups.  Her specialty was props. There are others too numerous to mention.

Some of Ruby’s best kept secrets were: she liked to hike, she knew something about trains, she knew how to use a sailboat, she was a downhill skier, and she was a board-certified cosmetologist.

Ruby relaxed by playing games and watching religious movies on the computer.

In addition to her husband, R. Earl Smith, she is survived by her son, Gunnar Smith of Lansdowne, PA; siblings: Edward Perry, Jr., Archibald Perry, Adelia Ann Perry, Juanita Perry, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Ruby was preceded in death by her daughter, Dr. Kimberly F. Smith; sister, Alfretta Perry; brothers, Clyde Perry, and Roderick Perry.

The sun has gone down for a life that wished to spread light.  Ruby will be sadly missed by family, friends, and the community that she served.

Family and friends may share condolences at the guestbook link on this memorial page.

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