Ruby Gayle Cartner Anderson

Ruby Gayle Cartner Anderson, 82, of Pfafftown, NC, formerly of Mars Hill, NC, died peacefully on Sunday, July 2, 2023 at Vienna Village.

She was born on August 5, 1940, in Winston-Salem, NC, daughter of the late Hubert W. Cartner and Martha Gibson Cartner. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Frederick F. Anderson; two brothers, Hubert W. Cartner, Jr. and Garland P. Cartner; a brother-in-law, Charles K. Beck and a nephew, Kevin Beck.

Surviving are her three sons, Michael Anderson (Lesa), Jeffrey Anderson (Christina) and Kenneth Anderson (Melissa); her sister, Hazel Beck; two sisters-in-law, Donna Cartner and Frankye Cartner; eleven grandchildren;  numerous nieces and nephews;  other extended family; and in her words, her “adopted” fourth son, Darryl Norton.

The youngest of four children, Ruby Gayle was raised in Winston-Salem, NC, on a dairy farm. After graduating from Western Carolina University with a degree in Elementary Education she taught kindergarten and second grade, mostly at Mars Hill Elementary School. Following the sudden and unexpected death of her husband in 1992, she retired from teaching and began several new endeavors, including working with Governor Hunt’s Smart Start Program, serving on the Madison County Board of Education and serving as a public member on the Board of Trustees at Mars Hill College (now Mars Hill University). She was also a faithful and active member of Mars Hill Baptist Church where she sang in the choir and served on the Board of Deacons. After moving back to the Winston-Salem area permanently in 2014 to be closer to family she became active in Peace Haven Baptist Church which she had already joined in 2010. Over the last three years of her life while a resident at Vienna Village Assisted Living in Pfafftown, Ruby would often sit at the piano and play for the other residents and staff.

First and foremost though, Ruby spent her life devoted to her family; first, to her husband and three sons, her parents and siblings, and then ultimately to her grandchildren. She spent countless hours traveling to all destinations necessary to be at every school event, performance, ballgame, celebration or Holiday gathering and any other event that might have been important to her family and friends. But it was especially important if the travel involved getting to share in the lives of her grandchildren. She traveled back and forth so much that she used the email address, roamingruby@...

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at Mars Hill Baptist Church. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the church.

The family wishes to express a special note of thanks to the entire staff at Vienna Village Assisted Living for the love and genuine care shown to Ruby Gayle. The family also thanks the other residents of Vienna Village for the friendships and kindness they shared with her.

Memorials in Ruby Gayle’s memory may be made to Mars Hill Baptist Church, 67 N. Main St., Mars Hill, NC 28754 or Peace Haven Baptist Church, 3384 York Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27106.