Ruby Whiters Lee Obituary (1953 - 2022)

Ruby Diana Whiters Lee departed this life on Sunday, July 10, 2022, at the of age 68, surrounded by her loving husband, John H. Lee, and her dedicated caretakers at Tribute at Melford Memory Care in Bowie, Maryland. Ruby was born on August 20, 1953, to the late Della McRuthy Whiters Shelton and Herbert Shelton, Sr., in Mineral, Virginia. She was a loving wife, devoted daughter, selfless sister, and loyal friend. Ruby was predeceased by her mother, Della McRuthy Whiters Shelton, father, Herbert L. Shelton, Sr., brothers, Herbert L. Shelton, Jr., and Melvin Shelton, and stepdaughter, Tanya Lee. Ruby loved God and received Christ at a very young age. As a girl, she learned to lift her voice in praise, worship, prayer, and song while attending Rising Sun Baptist Church. Ruby used her anointed voice to sing praises to God every day of her life. Ruby was known for her angelic voice and loved to practice singing with her mother and father. Ruby, her siblings, and their parents were well-known throughout Louisa County, Virginia as the Singing Sheltons. She loved her home church and always made time to sing in the choir when she was back in Mineral visiting family. After graduating from Louisa County High School in 1971, Ruby worked briefly as a seamstress trainee in a factory in Louisa County. Ruby, however, had big dreams for her life. With her parents’ blessing and encouragement, she moved to Washington, D.C., and lived with relatives while busing tables. Ruby quickly realized that a career in the Federal Government would enable her to achieve her personal and professional dreams and desire for financial stability. Ruby began her Federal career as a clerk-typist trainee with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) in 1972. She was smart, quiet, savvy and very hardworking. She received numerous accolades, awards, and promotions before hitting the glass ceiling as a clerk-typist, so she set her mind on a new dream of entering the professional level of Federal Service. With the drive to make her dreams come true, Ruby attended the University of the District of Columbia and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Technology. She was a focused college student who made many personal sacrifices. Ruby readily made the tradeoff because she knew that by obtaining a college degree, she would be eligible for a renewed career at the EPA and well-positioned to start working on her other dreams such as providing for her parents, aiding her siblings when needed, buying a house, and splurging on herself with a new Mercedes-Benz. Ruby was blessed with a loving husband. One day, John Lee, who retired from the EPA in 1994, returned to the agency to reconnect with some of his old buddies when he ran into Ruby. After a brief romance, Ruby and John married in Las Vegas on November 29, 2008. Ruby never worked another day in her life after she said, “I do.” She formally retired from the EPA on January 3, 2009, after 37 years of Federal service, to join John in retirement. John adored Ruby and together they led an active and joy-filled life traveling, going to casinos, and spending time with family and friends. Ruby is survived, and will be forever missed, by, her devoted husband, John H. Lee; stepdaughter, Teresa Lee; stepgranddaughter, Abby Ndoye, and goddaughter, Makala Mansfield; brothers, James Shelton (Sabrenda), John Shelton (Terry), and Franklin Shelton (Velma); sisters, Pearl Mansfield (McLoyd) and Vivian Winters (Edward); beloved aunts, Lucy Whiters and Susie Whiters; many uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, other relatives, and friends. Ruby’s family wishes to extend a special thanks to the dedicated staff and administrators of Tribute at Melford in Bowie, Maryland.