KINGMAN – On August 10, Ruby Dishneau celebrated her 100-year birthday with approximately 250 people. Most of these people were a part of the six generations of family, including more than 150 of Ruby’s grandchildren. With the oldest grandchild at age 63 and the youngest at only four months old, Ruby was surrounded by a diverse group of loving and proud individuals. The entire day, family from all walks of life, neighbors and friends were congratulating her on her birthday, telling her they love her, hugging and kissing her, and putting their foreheads to hers.
Frankie, one of Ruby’s three surviving children of the original seven, doted upon Ruby and spoke highly of her throughout the day. “Fiery is an understatement” she would say, when thinking upon all the wild and funny stories they have shared throughout her life with Ruby. “When we were little,” Frankie stated “we would pick pecans out of the yard and Mom would play poker with us. She’d always cheat so she could have all our pecans and go to the store to buy us food.” Ruby didn’t stop poker with her children, however. In fact, Frankie claimed that every person in her family has played poker with Granny at least once. “She has tried to cheat every way she can, and now that they’re all adults they don’t let her get away with cheating anymore!”
Ruby was born with fire in her soul in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1919, and grew up on the banks of the Mississippi River. She was 20 in 1939 and having babies one right after the other. Ruby uttered, “Times were hard then. I was raising seven children alone before I met my second husband.” Ruby reminisces that meeting her second husband was the one thing she would always remember in her life. The first time she stepped in Arizona was when she visited Glendale in 1942. After traveling throughout Arkansas, Tennessee, and Arizona—her favorite spot being the Hualapai Mountains since 1956—Ruby finally found her place here in Kingman.
Ruby, true to Frankie’s words, is more than just feisty. At 100 years old, she is more youthful than most people in their 30s today. She joked, smiled, and wore a light up flower crown. She places her hope and happiness in God and mentioned plenty of times the life He gave her in all the trying times. Ruby even proudly proclaimed, “I worked hard my whole life and I tried to live just as close to the Lord as I could because He was my guide. I trained my kids to do the same.” And she did just that. Around the room, in her family’s eyes, and the way they treated not only each other, but the newcomers filing in, Ruby absolutely passed on her overwhelming love in her life.
When asked about her long life, she still seemed mystified that she had come so far in this world. “I never knew I would live that long as hard as times were. You were lucky if you made it to 39.” According to a demographic study done by Berkeley, the life expectancy of a female in 1919 was only 56 years old. Ruby has nearly doubled that age at 100.
So how did she do it?
Ruby claims that she had no hand in her long life. “I didn’t do it, the Lord did it!” She matter-of-factly corrected, “I am here as long as he needs me,” and with a switch of attitude, she leaned into me with a twinkle in her eye before chuckling, “but after that, I’m ready to go to sleep!”
Ruby is a sweet soul, with an eternal passion for life. She believes in God and the power He brings her, and she believes in her family. Ruby Dishneau is one of the many definitions of a wise, strong woman. She deserves the loving children she has raised, and the beautiful family she has created. Happy Birthday Ruby, and hello Century Woman.
-Skyler Holmes
