Willie Ruby

Lancaster

Willie Ruby Lancaster, was born May 1, 1928 to Sarah Jane and Willie Curly Lancaster, Houston, Texas, She departed this life on March 10, 2026 at the age of 97 at Swanton Valley Nursing Home in Swanton Ohio.

A devoted mother and cherished matriarch, Willie Ruby graduated from Phyllis Wheatley High School in Houston TexasShe came to Toledo,Ohio over 70 years ago in search of a better life.

Willie Ruby enjoyed sewing and was a seamstress at LaSalles, McCanns, and Sears & Roebuck Department Stores. She was the only Black Machine Operator at Sears.

She went on to earn a degree from the International Bible Institute and obtained her license to preach . She was a member of Eastern Star Missionary Baptist Church and was a clergy at Soul City House of God.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her four of her twelve children, Carl Lancaster,Alton Sanders, Felicia Darlene Taylor and Katherine Moses-Taylor; her brother Charles Lancaster, sisters Betty Jane Jones and Greta Mae Jones.Left to cherish her memories are 3 sons, Dellsworth Taylor, of Toledo, Ellsworth Taylor, of California, Reuben Heard of Houston, TX; daughters Beverly Montgomery,Evelyn Tucker,Germaine Mack and Ruby Taylor; sister Greta Jones of Houston, TX, 38 grandchildren 50 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews,cousins and other relatives and friends.

Poem

Then tomorrow starts without me

And I'm not there to see

If the sun should rise and find your eyes

All filled with tears for me

I wish so much you wouldn't cry

The way you did today

While thinking of the many things,

We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,

As much as I love you

And each time that you think of me,

I know you'll miss me too

But when t tomorrow starts without me

Please try to understand,

That an angel came and called my name,

And took me by the hand,

And said my place was ready, In heaven far above,

And that I'd have to leave behind

All those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away,

A tear fell from my eye

For all my life, I'd always thought,

I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for, So much left yet to do,

It seemed almost impossible,

That I was leaving you