Ruby-Marie (Lockridge) Breeding Johnson, age 88, of Franklin, NC, passed away on Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at Kindred Hospital in Melbourne, FL.

Ruby-Marie was born on February 5, 1930 in Washington, DC, daughter of the late Robert W. and Marian (Eberle) Lockridge.

Ruby-Marie was the firstborn of six children to Colonel Robert and Marian Lockridge. Her childhood involved much travel as her father was stationed in various places around the United States. Ruby’s sisters tell us there were times when she was like a second mother to her younger siblings. She grew up, inspired by her mother and grandmother, Ruby Nevada, and had a love for travel and art! Ruby-Marie graduated high school from Alamo Heights in San Antonio Texas. She then studied at Corcoran Art Institute in Washington DC. After completing her degree, Ruby-Marie was offered a job to be illustrator for the Washington Post at age 18. It was at that time her father, Colonel Robert W. Lockridge, was being transferred to Occupied Japan. Ruby-Marie chose to decline the job to join her family on the adventure of a lifetime. The Lockridge family became the first dependents in Occupied Japan. While Ruby-Marie was in Japan she climbed Mount Fuji! She also met and married her first husband Captain Eugene B. Breeding. Ruby-Marie and Gene were married in Nagoya Japan when she was 19 years old. Soon after, Ruby and Gene were stationed back in the USA at Travis Air Force Base in California. It was there Ruby and Gene started their family. They had two children, Deborah Lynn Breeding and Larry Dean Breeding. Ruby-Marie was active wherever her husband was stationed. She became President of the Officers Wives Club. She also worked using her artistic talent to create illustrations for the government of the United States.

As Ruby-Marie poured her love for life and creativity into her various roles and relationships, she developed a strong driving passion and pride for her family. Her love for family and others only multiplied when she accepted Jesus as her Savior at age 29. She got involved with the church and with Sunday school teaching, and made sure that her family was at church regularly.

Ruby passed on her positive, encouraging spirit to her son and daughter. She never missed an opportunity to praise them and tell them how much she loved them. She and Gene instilled respect, integrity, and the desire to always "do your best" into them. She was "Mom" to most of Debbie and Larry's friends. She knew all of her neighbors by name and was at their door with a meal when needed. She held her children to a very high standard but at the same time embodied a forgiving spirit. She taught them to look for the best in everyone.

Ruby’s husband, Gene, passed away in January of 1981, just before their first grandchild was born. The following year Ruby began to date a family friend, William C. Johnson and later that year they were married. From there her family grew once again. Ruby would have family and friends visit at her Orlando house or the Mountain House in North Carolina often. She would take cruises and trips all over the world, keeping alive her adventurous spirit and passion for life. When family was around, some of her favorite things were going to exciting places, seeing the sights, or experiencing new things. She loved to play card games of all kinds. This tradition lives on through her daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Ruby, (Gramma, Gram, or Geeka) became a constant presence in all her grandchildren’s lives. She was at every birthday and event. As they grew, she was at every graduation, wedding, and great grandchild’s birth she could get to. She began a tradition of high school “senior year cruises.” She would generously help financially with honeymoons and other important life events for family and extended family.

Ruby also passed on a musical heritage to her family. There was never a shortage of concerts, recitals, or church worship services for her to attend where her family was involved in the music. She loved to sing hymns, and the family would often gather together to play and sing hymns as an enjoyable pastime.

Ruby was a strong and beautiful lady inside and out, a true gem. She lived her life with integrity, love and the warmth of hospitality. She was always thinking of others as more important than herself, and enjoyed every opportunity she had to give of what she had. She is famous for her big breakfasts, beautifully set dinner tables, and wonderful cooking. One of her favorite places to be was around a table full of family and friends, telling stories, sharing laughter, and there was always plenty of food!

Ruby’s legacy of faith and love can be summed up in this passage of scripture that was underlined in her Bible:

Colossians 3:12-17-“God had chosen you and made you His holy people. He loves you. So always do these things: Show mercy to others, be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Get along with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you. Do all these things; but most important, love each other. Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity. Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking, because you we’re all called together in one body to have peace. Always be thankful. Let the teaching of Christ live in you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and instruct each other by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the father through Jesus.”

The Everyday Bible, New Century Version

Ruby-Marie is survived by her daughter, Deborah Lynn Tomlinson and her husband Terry; a daughter-in-law, Kathy Davis and her husband, Glenn; her many grandchildren, Erin Lynn Tomlinson-Minard and her husband, Jim, Tiffany Lynn Tomlinson, Trevor Lynn Tomlinson, Micah Lynn Tomlinson, Jared Lynn Tomlinson, Lauren Grace Breeding-Ashmead and her husband, Shane, Kyle Breeding and his wife, Aimee, Kenton Breeding, Kevin Breeding and his wife Kayla, Dale Johnson and his wife, Carol, Wanda Cooley and her husband, Larry, Lloyd Johnson, Bradley Johnson and his wife Nicole, Leah Johnson, Mark Cooley and his wife, Cynthia, Amy McNeil and her husband, Bob, Brittney Johnson, and Shannon Johnson; a granddaughter-in-law, Linda Johnson; her numerous great-grandchildren, Audrey Lynn Minard, Eliza Jane Minard, Samuel James Minard, Bryson Pierce, Brayden Pierce, Maddox Breeding, Quinn Breeding, Luke Breeding, Zoe Breeding, Inara Johnson, Sariah Johnson, Addison Cooley, William Cooley, Carrie McNiel, Ethan McNeil; two brothers, Robert Lockridge and his wife, Lucia, and James Lockridge and his wife, Francie; and two sisters, Mary Dunagan and Beverly Maged, and her husband, Lee.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Eugene Buster Breeding; her second husband, William Clyde Johnson; her son, Larry Dean Breeding; and a sister, Barbara Mason and her husband John.

Funeral Services will be held at First Baptist Church of Pine Castle, 1001 Hoffner Ave, Orlando, FL 32809, on Monday, September 10, 2018, with Pastor Bill Burkhalter, officiating.

Visitation is at the church on Monday, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am.

Interment will follow at Glen Haven Memorial Park, Winter Park, FL.

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You may also send contributions to the MOAACC (Military Officers Association of America, Cape Canaveral Chapter) Scholarship Fund at P.O. Box 254708, Patrick AFB, FL 32925-4708.