Name:
Ralph Archibald Ruby 
Location served:
Tilbury  
Years in Practice:
1927 to 1972
Area of Specialization:
Family Medicine  

Biography:

Dr. Ralph Archibald Ruby was born in Waterloo, Ontario on the 23rd of September, 1899. Dr. Ruby was the youngest of 2 children born to Dr. Ralph Herbert Ruby and the former Lillian Foster. Dr. Ruby’s father attended medical school after Dr. Ruby was born.  At the time of his parents marriage his father was a teacher.  Dr. Ralph Herbert Ruby graduated from The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine in 1906.  Dr. Ralph Archibald Ruby had a sister named Phyllis Lillian Ruby.

Dr. Ralph A. Ruby was educated in Kitchener and Kars (Ontario).  Prior to attending university Dr. Ruby had jobs as a banker in Osgoode, a civil servant in Ottawa and working at the Ford Motor Company in Detroit.

He entered The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine in 1920 and graduated M.B. in 1926.  Dr. Ruby interned at the Ottawa Civic Hospital before opening his medical practice in Kemptville, Ontario. He served as Medical Officer of Health in Kemptville for 2 years.

Dr. Ruby married Margery Vivienne Wilson in Kemptville on the 6th of September, 1930.  Mrs. Ruby was born in Smith Falls, Ontario on the 22nd of September, 1904.  She was the daughter of Joseph Robert Wilson and the former Ida Isabelle Sweeney.  Her father had previously been married to Charlotte Lavinia Beaman and they had two sons: Forrest Kimber Wilson and Garnet Earle Wilson.  Mrs. Charlotte Lavinia (Beaman) Wilson died on the 9th of April 1899.  Mr. Wilson married Ida Isabelle Sweeney on the 21st of August, 1901.  Mrs. Ruby’s father was a carpenter and an undertaker and Mrs. Ruby also had a younger brother named John Robert Wilson.

Dr. and Mrs. Ruby had two children, Jocelyn Ruby and Ralph Ruby.

In 1943, Dr. Ruby enlisted in the R.C.A.M.C. and served for 2 1/2 years during World War II. Upon his discharge, Dr. Ruby moved his practice to Tilbury. He became the Medical Officer of Health for Tilbury North for 5 years. He was a member of the I.O.O.F. and the Canadian Legion.  Dr. Ruby was a member of the Tilbury Lions Club and served as the President in 1959.  He enjoyed bowling and curling in his spare time.

Dr. and Mrs. Ruby enjoyed travelling.  One of their most exciting excursions, was a trip around the world on a freighter.

Dr. and Mrs. Ruby retired to London, Ontario in 1972.  Just prior to Dr. Ruby’s retirement nearly 600 citizens from Tilbury and the surrounding area, gathered at the Tilbury Memorial Arena to pay tribute to Dr. Ruby, Dr. Donald M. McPherson and Dr. Ernest U. Sparling (a dentist), who were all retiring.  Dr. Ruby commented that he never regretted his decision to move from the Ottawa Valley and he called the citizens of Tilbury, “the most friendly in the world”.

Dr. Ruby died on the 5th of September, 1990.  Mrs. Ruby died on the 16th of December, 1998.  Dr. and Mrs. Ruby were buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in London.

*Dr. Ruby’s son, Ralph also became a physician.

**Mrs. Ruby’s brother S/Sgt Garnet Earle Wilson served with the Canadian Armed Services during WWI.

***Dr. Donald Marshall McPherson also appears on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.