Zelda Ruby Lea Bishop, 96, passed away on April 28, 2025. The middle child of twelve, Ruby Lea was born on August 18, 1928 in Marion County, AL to Riley Houston and Maudie Frederick.
After attending Phillips High School, she married John Alfred Bishop, on April 23, 1947. She and John moved to Florence, AL in 1956 where they raised their children, Michael and Nancy. Ruby Lea and John are lifetime members of Forest Hills Baptist Church. There, she attended her much-loved Joy Sunday School class whose members were all dear friends. Ruby Lea was an accomplished seamstress and worked in Quality Control for H.D. Lee Company for more than 20 years. She enjoyed watching Atlanta Braves baseball, making peanut butter balls for her great grandsons, gardening and canning, and playing Rook for more than 50 years with her husband and best friends, Betty and Edward Woodard.
Ruby Lea is survived by her husband of 78 years, John Bishop; her son, Michael Bishop (Nancy); her daughter, Nancy Marks (Zaf Ahmed); grandchildren, Houston Marks, Jacob Bishop (Hannah), Sam Bishop (Lindsay), and Meredith Marks; great grandsons, Rhett Bishop, Judd Bishop and Isaac Bishop. She is also survived by brother-in-law, Quention Bishop, and sister-in-law, Lula Frederick.
Ruby Lea was predeceased by her parents, six brothers, RC, Orbie, Gene, Spencer, Arvil and Royce Frederick and five sisters, Chessie Crowe, Gussie Marbutt, Othel Strickland, Lena Langley, and Christine Spiller and son-in-law, Marshall Marks.
The family would like to thank Michelle Moore and Gentiva Hospice for the wonderful care they provided to Ruby Lea and family.
Visitation will be held Sunday, May 4th, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Greenview Funeral Home with a graveside service following. Officiating will be Ashley Pettus.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Pallbearers are Houston Marks, Sam Bishop, Eddie Lovelace, Zaf Ahmed, Greg Sharp, and Ronnie Woodard.
