This document is from Jean Church’s research.

Mrs. W. O. (Ruby) Absher

1915-2001

Mrs. W. O. (Ruby) Absher was a Professional Genealogist here in Wilkes County, North Carolina. She was well known as an expert in the genealogy of North Carolina. She was highly recommended by the North Carolina Archives to all who sought a recommendation for a Professional Genealogist. She was an early member of Wilkes County Genealogical Society, joining shortly after the charter members. She served in many of the offices of the society, and for a very long time was editor of the bulletin. She was the backbone of the society for many years. She was the editor of Wilkes County Heritage Vol. I, published in 1982. As an author, abstracter or co-abstracter of many of the early records in Wilkes, Stokes and Surry Counties. The range of her work for the preservation of the history and genealogy of Wilkes County is beyond a doubt, the best research aids for the area to be found. She has had a lot of her abstracts and books published, beyond what our society has published.

As a researcher and genealogist she loved being able to help others in their quest for their ancestors. She was a knowledgeable teacher of genealogy here in Wilkes, Ashe, and Watauga Counties. Students often came great distances to attend classes, and some from other states. I feel very fortunate to have been a student in her last class she taught in Wilkes County. The gift of her love of genealogy, was instilled in me many years ago. She always had time for you if you were a true student and willing to learn. I spent many happy days with her after the classes, and had a great mentor for many years. Her mentoring was a precious gift, which has filled my life with joy and a love for genealogy for most of my life. I know many other students that feel the same way about her great interest in the genealogy of Wilkes County people. She was never too busy to help you when you called on her for clarification, or for help beyond what you knew about specific research problems. She always knew or could point you to a source to find what you needed. Many people are indebted to her for solving their genealogical brick walls, when they could not go any further with their research. It seems she could always come up with another source of information, or another direction of research, to help you find that elusive scrap of proof you might need.

Other activities she was involved in included being an organizer of the North Carolina Genealogical Society, a life member, and one of the first directors, of North Carolina Genealogical Society. President of North Wilkesboro Junior Women’s Club. Registrar of the Rendezvous Mountain Daughtesr of the American Revolution. All of which took a backseat to Wilkes Genealogical Society, the most important part of her life, after her family.

Wilkes Genealogical Society is forever indebted to her for her involvement and all the hard work she invested in the society for so many years. She would be so proud of us to see what we have done since she retired from the work of the society. I think she would have been delighted in the wealth of materials we have in digital form, and the increase of research materials, the publication of the bulletin via email. What would Mrs. Ruby think of all the genealogy resources on the internet? I can only imagine her delight in all the sources available with the stroke of a key on a computer. She would be delighted to know some of her former students and co-workers within the society, have embraced the computer genealogical research, but still apply all her strict rules of stating your source of proof.

Wilma Jean Reynolds, Director Wilkes Genealogical Society