ELKHART — Ruby J. Bean, 76, of Elkhart, went to be with the Lord at 4:56 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, at Elkhart General Hospital following an extended illness.

She was born April 20, 1938, in Hughes, Ariz., to the late George and Bessie (Neeley) Chester.

On June 29, 1963, she married Ray Bean Sr. in South Bend. He survives at home.

Also left to cherish her memory are her children, Deborah "Debi" Johnson of Laurel, Md., and Shawn (Michelle) Bean of Elkhart; stepchildren Betty Bean, Cora (Jonathan) Brown, Elaine (Randy) Kiefer and Ray (Rhonda) Bean Jr., all of Elkhart; brothers John (Gloria), Theodore and Michael Chester, all of South Bend; sisters Cleola Peak of Simpsonville, S.C., and Mary (Sheldon) Taylor and Jonnie Roberson, both of South Bend; and grandchildren Devin, Naieem, Tsehai, S'nyah and Iyanla ("Lil' Rubie").

Preceding her in death were her brothers, Richard and Fred Chester; and an infant sister, Betty Jean Chester.

Ruby's homegoing celebration will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, at Billings Funeral Home of Elkhart. A funeral service will follow at noon Saturday, Jan. 3, at the Canaan Missionary Church of Elkhart, with visitation beginning there one hour prior. Pastor Coy Brown will officiate.

Burial will take place in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Osceola.

Ruby retired as a quality control inspector for the Carpenter Co. of Elkhart in 2001.

At the time of her passing, she was the longest living member of Winding Waters Brethren Church of Elkhart.

She loved to cook for her family, spend time with her grandchildren and travel. She was also an accomplished long-distance runner in the 1980s and 1990s.

Memorial donations may be given to the Ruby J. Bean Memorial Fund c/​o Billings Funeral Home. Online condolences can reach the family at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.

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