Daily Sitka Sentinel

Ruby (Howard) Lanham Dies in Idaho at Age 65

Ruby (Howard) Lanham

A service for Ruby Lanham, born and raised in Sitka, will be held at the Caldwell Church of Christ in Caldwell, Idaho, at 11 a.m. on Nov. 30, 2019.
Ruby passed peacefully in her sleep in the home she shared with her love of 44 years, Dennis, at her side, on Nov. 18. Dennis and their son were there to say goodbye. She was 65.
Ruby was born August 31, 1954, the daughter of Helen (Liberty) and George Howard. She was Alaska Native, of Tlingit descent, of the Kaagwaantaan (Wolf) clan and Eagle tribe.
 Ruby was the youngest of 17 children. She attended local schools in Sitka and then married Dennis Lanham August 9, 1975, while Dennis was active duty Coast Guard. They were stationed in California for a year and returned to Sitka to call it home.
In May 1981 they welcomed their one and only child, Dennis Lanham. Ruby went on to work in the kitchen at Sheldon Jackson College and SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital, where she worked as a CNA.
In September 2007, Dennis and Ruby retired to Sequim, Washington, where they built their home. There Ruby tested and passed the State exam to be a licensed Nail Tech.
Dennis and Ruby then decided to move to Caldwell to live closer to their son and grandchildren. Ruby had deep Faith and talked about how lucky they were that Dennis selected Caldwell Church of Christ for them to join. She loved attending family functions, dinners and parties. She kept all of the family close in communication, sharing needed prayers and general love.
Ruby was also an active member of the Elks Lodge and Moose Lodge, and loved the Seahawks, dancing and karaoke. Among her and Dennis’ other pleasures was riding their motorcycles.
Words cannot express the love that Ruby had for so many. “She had a gift for making you feel special/loved and important ... she was a shining example of love,” her family said. “Her heart was beautiful, she welcomed you with a smile and a hug each time you saw her; you could see the genuine person she was in everything she did. This sudden loss is indescribable for all of her family.”
Ruby is survived by her husband, Dennis, son Dennis (Stephanie Sandidge); two beautiful grandchildren,  Kyle and Laneva; her sisters Shirley Howard of Sitka, Diane Howard of Seattle and Georgina Lundy of Bremerton, Washington; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ruby was preceded in death by her parents, George and Helen Howard, and 14 siblings, most recently Glenn, Louis, Marlene, Roger and George Howard. 
All are welcomed to the spreading of Ruby’s and her brother Glenn’s ashes August 2020 in Naquasena Bay. Glenn passed just five months before Ruby.
Family and friends will be having a celebration of life in Sitka, with the date to be announced soon.