Ruby Cunningham Bridges, 91, left us to go to her Heavenly Home on Saturday, February, 1, 2025. Her family will receive visitors at Heartland Funeral Home in Early, Wednesday, February 5, 2025, from 5-7 PM. There will be a private graveside service at Eastlawn Memorial Park in Early on Thursday.
Ruby was born July 15, 1933 in Chicot Co., Arkansas to J.O. & Mae Cunningham. She was raised on a farm in Montrose, Arkansas. Her 1st job at age 14 was with the Railroad. She would stand up on a platform and hand off orders to the train engineers as they “whizzed by”. After graduating high school, she went to nursing school in El Dorado, Arkansas, receiving her RN license, and where she met the love of her life, Arlie H. Bridges.
Ruby & Arlie married on August 20, 1955. They eventually moved to Lubbock, Texas where she was a surgical scrub nurse at Methodist University Hospital. She was chosen to be on the first open heart surgery team there. Ruby and Arlie were charter members of Bacon Heights Baptist Church in Lubbock.
Arlie & Ruby moved to Brownwood, in 1970. They owned Central Texas Insurance Agency. Ruby was involved with the American Business Women’s Association for a number of years serving as president eventually.
Ruby is survived by her son Arlie “Chipper” Bridges, Jr. & his wife Susan of Elgin; brother Samuel Cunningham of Conroe; grandsons: Arlie Bridges III & wife Ricie & their children Logan & Lilian of Austin; Andrew Bridges & wife Kerri & their children Violet & Bodhi of Fairfax, VA; granddaughters: Autumn Alexander of Houston; April Tassin & her husband Aaron & their children Elizabeth & Alex of Early; several nieces and nephews.
Ruby was preceded in death by her husband Arlie, her daughter Elizabeth, her parents J.O. & Mae Cunningham, 2 brothers & 3 sisters.
Online condolences, memories and tributes can be given to the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net
