Ruby Carolyn Shipley July 1, 1952-May 22, 2025

Ruby Carolyn Shipley, aged 72, passed away on May 22, 2025 after battling the effects of a heart attack. She died peacefully surrounded by loved ones. 

Ruby Rodriguez was born in Sugar Land, TX to Juan Rodriguez and Elizabeth Skopic as the second child amongst 8 siblings. Their childhood formed a special bond amongst the siblings such that any gathering in adulthood often led to tears of laughter. After becoming a mother with her first husband Billy Pfeffer, she lived in Fulshear, TX and worked at Dozier's BBQ. After their split, she met her second husband Raymond Shipley through her friendship with his sister. Raymond and Ruby were married in Texas on June 21, 1980 and together they raised their 8 kids, eventually moving the family to Bowie, MD. 

As a young mother, she worked long hours to provide for her family, and made it a priority for her kids to grow up with more than she had. Upon her marriage to Raymond, creating a family unit was her prime concern and she worked as a peacemaker, but also knew when it was time to lay down the law. She has left a void amongst her now grown children who will miss her laughter, her calm demeanor, her listening ear, and her insights into their feelings that she knew better than themselves. 

Ruby worked for many years at SC Herman and Associates as an accounting manager where she never turned down an opportunity to take on a new assignment. With her natural affinity for numbers, she made difficult tasks look easy. With Raymond, she served with the Women’s Auxiliary League for the VFW and American Legion traveling all over the country serving veterans and managing events. Following Raymond’s death on May 22, 2013, Ruby retired and eventually moved to Cudjoe Key, Fl.

Ruby flourished in her retirement, living in Venture Out. She served on many boards and was involved in all the community events, including their community theater. She lived the last years of her life getting to know herself, learning who she was beyond being a wife and mother. At the time of her death, she was the Commodore of the Boat Club. She took her organizational and numbers skills and put herself to work creating a property management company for all the many short term rentals in the community.

Ruby is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Frank “Sugar Pie” and  John “Junga,” Rodriguez, husband Raymond, and son Steve Shipley. She is survived by her children Billy Shipley and his wife Erin, Becky Hill and her husband John, Tim Shipley and his wife Jami, Margie Shipley and her partner Louis Cooke IV, Mark Shipley, Diana Shipley, and Kim Shipley; grandchildren Daniel, Natalie, Jessalyn and Harper Shipley; Michelle, Shannon, and Steven Hill; Dillon and Rylan Shipley; and Elizabeth Holmes and Louis Cooke V. She is also survived by her brothers Carlos Rodriguez and Joseph “Boo Boo” Gutowsky, sisters Benita “Betty” Silvas and Bernice Torres, many nieces and nephews, as well as her many friends who became family in Venture Out. To know Ruby was to share a laugh with her, especially if it involved someone falling down or hurting themselves.

Memorial services will be held Friday, July 11, 2025 at 2 pm at Quantico National Cemetery.

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