Ruby Dunbar

Ruby Marie Gesling Dunbar, 100 of Kirksville passed away Friday, June 24, 2022 at her home.

The daughter of Louis and Bertha (Hartung) Gesling, she was born October 15, 1921 in Chariton County, Missouri.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Husband., Marlin; one daughter, Barbara Ann; four brothers, Richard F., Eldon William, Albert Louis Gesling, and Gene Kenneth; one sister, Gertrude M. Dennis.

Ruby attended school at Bentley Rural School in Chariton County and Luthersn School in Forest Green through the 9 ^th grade. She went to work in the homes of various families in the community as a helper. She graduated from high school in Salisbury, Missouri in 1941. She became a teacher and began teaching at Bentley Rural School. On December 27, 1941 Ruby married Merrill William Leutung. They moved to St. Louis in May of 1942. She worked for Curtiss-Wright building airplanes during the war. In 1944 Ruby moved back to Salisbury and in 1946 Ruby and Merrill moved to Columbia and ran a service station on south highway 63 until June of 1948. After brief moves to Princeton, IL, Edina, MO, Nevada, MO and Macon, MO they settled in Kirksville in 1955. Ruby attended Northeast State Teachers College and graduated with BA in Elementary Education in 1959. She taught sixth and seventh grade at LaPlata while working on her master’s degree. In 1961 she began teaching sixth grade at Washington School in Kirksville. In 1969 Ruby began teaching seventh, eighth and ninth grades social studies at Ophelia Parrish Junior High. She retired from teaching in 1987.

Merrill and Ruby divorced in 1973. On June 17, 1978 in Ruby married Marlin Richard Dunbar.

Ruby was active in teacher’s organization, like National Education Association. She served on the state NEA Board and held officer positions. She was a member of American Legion Auxiliary, Business and Professional Women’s Club, and Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. She served on the OATS board, Area Agency on Aging, Silver-Haired Legislature, Adair County Democratic Committee and the Democratic Club.  Ruby and Marlin enjoyed traveling. She was proud of her work in establishing an early type safe house for women and children. She would man the phones setup to assist callers with the help they would need.

Ruby is survived by her son, Stan; one daughter, Cheryl; one grandchild; three great grandchildren; one brother, Herbert Marshall Gesling; also surviving are five step children and seven step grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Kirksville at 11 am this Wednesday. There will be a story telling session afterward for all who knew Ruby and care to share.

Memorials in memory of Ruby are suggested to any of the originations mentioned above.