Obituary

Submitted by daughter, Lesley L. Schriever

Eunice “Ruby” Ross Rose Dixon (1918 – 2011)

Ruby, beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend, was peacefully called to Heaven on September 6 in Southern California. Her amazing life included living and working at telephone companies in three countries, being widowed three times and always sharing her sunny outlook on life with family, friends and all that she met. Her sparkling, deep blue eyes and cheery smile brightened up any room she walked into. She loved to laugh and loved a good joke. She was blessed with daughters Lesley Schriever and Vivienne Johnson; grandchildren David, Sean and Gentle Lenihan, Toby, Anne, Michael and Stuart Johnson and eight great-grandchildren. Her daughters’ many friends were always considered as family members.

Ruby was born in London, England to Dorothy May Mortlock and Donald William Ross on November 22, 1918. In 1940 she married Travers Lionel Rose, a Grenadier Guard at Buckingham Palace and later gave birth to a daughter, Lesley Sylvia Rose, on February 22, 1943 during an air raid. Five weeks later Travers was sent overseas to Burma never to see his wife and infant daughter again. Two years later he was reported missing in action and later confirmed that he had been killed in battle. During his absence Ruby worked on the switchboard at the American Embassy as a PBX operator. She answered and directed calls for the US Air Force, Petroleum Attache’s Office and the Office of Scientific Research and Development during the D-Day action and the big bomb in Japan as part of the war effort.

Ruby then met Dave Dixon, a soldier in the Canadian Seaforth Highlanders stationed in London. After a whirlwind courtship they were married in 1945 which led to a voyage across the Atlantic on an Army Hospital Ship to Nova Scotia, followed by a train trip across Canada to Vancouver, BC. Her second daughter, Vivienne Laura Dixon, was born on August 27, 1946 in Vancouver. Vivienne’s birth announcement was on the sports page of the Vancouver Sun newspaper because Dave had become a professional golfer and was on the golf course at the time of her birth. Ruby’s new life as the wife of a pro golfer took her to several golf courses in the Rocky Mountains, some of which expected her to do the catering. Her artistic soul always saw the beauty in these remote places. She passed her love of Nature and beauty onto her children and grandchildren.

In 1956, Ruby, Dave and the girls moved to Hermosa Beach, California where she worked for GTE and enjoyed her home and raising her girls. She loved gardening and watching the sunsets over the “Mighty Pacific Ocean”. She also enjoyed reading, drawing, painting, sewing, crocheting and knitting blankets for her children and grandchildren. She loved to do puzzles of all kinds which kept her alert and healthy into her nineties. She loved to collect things, especially English bone china, which she used daily.

Ruby was widowed again in 1979 and later reconnected with a long time family friend from Vancouver, Dr. Stanley Britten. He relocated his medical practice to Southern California where he worked until he passed away.

In her later years, Ruby became a regular for breakfast at Scotty’s on the Strand in Hermosa Beach, where she was fondly known as “The Queen Mum”. She could proudly demonstrate her high kicks which would put the Radio City Rockettes to shame. She also took pride in her little waistline which she maintained by eating salmon, potatoes, eggs and See’s coconut cream chocolates every day, but never overeating.

She volunteered at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas. She also enjoyed attending church at Hope Chapel in Hermosa Beach.

A memorial celebration of Ruby’s life will be on Saturday, October 8, 2011 from 2 to 5 PM at Scotty’s on the Strand, Hermosa Beach. Please bring (or send) photos and stories for the memory book we are making that will be posted on: www.hermosabeachroob.blogspot. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to your favorite charity.

Ruby's Life

"THIS IS YOUR LIFE WITH THE TELEPHONE COMPANY, RUBY DIXON"

1936 - Ruby applied as an operator at the "London Telecommunication Region" which was Civil Service. She became a training operator 3 years later.

1939 - "World War II came to London. Ruby's place of employment was located 2 blocks from the Baker Street Station and just 3 blocks from the British Broadcasting Company. This area was one of the many targets for enemy bombs. Ruby had many close calls. When the bombing became too bad, volunteers would stay to handle the emergency calls and the other operators would take their gas masks and retreat to the safety of the basement. She was a member of the St. John's Ambulance Team and would render first aid when needed.

1940 - Ruby married Travers, Lesley's dad, who was in the Grenadier Guards.

1943 - Ruby gave up her career as an operator to have her baby, this was a company rule. Lesley was born in St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London. This is the same hospital that Little Prince Harry was born in. Ruby recalled that during her stay in the hospital, they had air raids and Lesley was born during one of these air raids. Five weeks later Travers went overseas, he never saw Lesley again.

1944 - Ruby went back to work at the American Embassy near Marble Arch and Hyde Park as a PBX Operator. She answered and directed calls for the Air Force, Petroleum Attache's Office and the Office of Scientific Research and Development during the D-Day action and the big bomb in Japan.  During this time, Lesley was sent to her Auntie's house in the country because of a new bomb. This "Buzz Bomb" or the V-I was very scary, so were the V-2's later on!

1945 - Ruby's apartment was bombed.  Luckily, Ruby and her friend and roommate Madeleine were out with their babies.

Jan. 1945 - Ruby received word that her husband, Lesley's dad, was missing in Burma and was later reported as killed in action. He had been overseas for two years. Seven months later was introduced to Davie (Vivienne's dad), he was in the Canadian Seaforth Highlanders. It took him 6 days to make up his mind to ask her to marry him, but he was from Canada!!! They were married the end of 1945. Davie went home to Canada right after Christmas. So...

1946 - She moved to Canada. Ruby was 6 months pregnant when she came across the Atlantic on an Army Hospital Ship and Viv was borned in Canada. Davie had been a successful Junior Amateur Golfer before the war. So when Ruby came out to B. C., he turned pro, but the only courses left without a pro were in the "boon docks" in the middle of the Rocky Mountains - most beautiful scenery imaginable. They had never had a pro and required the wife to do the catering! So she did! Just in the summer however, the winters were too snowy. They went back to Vancouver and a couple of golf courses later, they went to Horseshoe Bay just outside Vancouver and she worked part-time for B.C. Telephone (now a subsidiary of GTE).

1956 - Then they decided to come down here (California). No problems, because Davie was considered a "Goodwill Ambassador because of the tournaments he had been in down here before the war.

Jan. 2, 1957 - Ruby came to work for General Telephone as a Directory Assistance operator.  Six (6) months later, she was made supervisor; 6 months later, she gave her title up! Two and one-half (2~) years later, Ruby left to be a housewife but was called back as occasional for the cut over to "All Number Calling". She put her name down for a vacancy in the Business Office when they were on Catalina and she got the job.  Another 2~ years later, she left to become a housewife again and got called back as occasional when the PV part of business office was downstairs at the 102 Building.

WORK STOPPAGE

Ruby transferred to Equipment Maintainer or (Switchman) for 4 months, flunked one of the schools - back to the Frame - then transferred to Assignment.

Quite a varied career