Celia "Loretta" Ruby

Celia “Loretta” Tyler (Ruby-Strand), 101 (a month away from 102!) years old left us peacefully on July 22, 2026 in Battle Creek, Michigan. She was born in 1924 in Iowa, before TVs were invented, and she lived long enough to use an iPad to keep up with her family and friends. She married Col. Robert C Ruby in 1946 and had 3 children, Carol, Carl, and Bill. They had a long marriage over 50 years, living in numerous countries and states, while creating many memories until Robert passed in 1999. She found love again with Col Howard Strand, whom she married in 2000, and had 16 beautiful years with him until he passed in 2017. Together they proved that you can find love at any age.

Loretta loved to sing and you could often find her humming a tune or waking you up with a melody. She shared her beautiful voice with the Chapel Hill UMC church choir for over 50 years, and was in the Valentine Singers, a local singing group. She was singing until her last day on earth, even if it was just to mouth the words to her favorite songs. She remembered her voice even when memories became distant. She was naturally funny. With a joke or quip to make anyone laugh or blush. Her aids at the Lakeview Home for Assisted Living, often said she made them laugh, stating that one time when she was being attended to, she said, “you might as well just throw me out the window.” That was her humor, unabashedly sassy and witty without even trying. She loved her family most of all; she was the matriarch and unconditionally loving. If someone needed something she was there. She would tell stories of her time abroad, drawing maps and diagrams on napkins to give us a visual. She was artistically inclined and an avid reader; with a book in her hand or a pen posed to write a letter to a family member. She lived a blessed life full of love.

She is survived by her son, William Ruby (Mary) and daughter, Carol Langley (Bradford), 5 grandchildren, Jodie Ruby, Joe Ruby, Erica Chapman, Hannah Langley, and Darrin Mills, and several great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by both husbands, Col Robert Ruby and Col Howard Strand, son, Carl Ruby, granddaughter Sonya Boar, and grandson Keith Mills, several family members and friends.

Loretta's memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026 at 11:00 am at Chapel Hill UMC with a meal to follow. Burial will take place at a later date.

Donations in Loretta's honor can be made to: The Music Center of South Central Michigan https://vourmusiccenter.Iudus.com/donate