Ruby Lee Wimpey Parks passed away Thursday, August 18, 2016 in Union General Hospital. She had a long and full life, during which she enjoyed teaching for 35 years, helping her husband on their farm and apple orchard, and spending time with her family.She was born in Union County on November 2, 1917 to John Andrew and Nellie Duckworth Wimpey. An education was stressed in the family so when Ruby and her siblings had finished the grades available in rural Union County, Mr. Wimpey bought a car and drove his children as well as some neighbor children into Blairsville to attend The Blairsville Collegiate Institute. Next on her ladder of education was Young Harris College. When Ruby graduated from there she took some time off to teach at Trackrock School and also to work in her father's country store on Town Creek before entering Piedmont College. Once again she spent a year teaching - in Oconee County. She loved to tell the story of her first employment after receiving her Bachelor's degree from Piedmont. "Jobs were hard to come by then," she would say. But her father called to tell her to be ready to leave as soon as graduation was over because she had an interview for a teaching position in Pickens County. This was almost time for school to start and she was hired! She had many interesting stories to tell about that year when many of the boys in high school were older than her, and also about the many special friendships made then. The superintendent and his wife became lifelong friends and they eventually introduced her to her future husband. She later taught in Cobb County, Gilmer County and Fannin County. Her longest tenure was at West Fannin High School from 1955 until 1974 when she retired. Ruby had met a young soldier, Howard Franklin Parks, from Gilmer county while working with these friends in Pickens County. Howard was discharged at the end of World War II and bought an apple orchard a few miles from Blue Ridge. He and Ruby were married in October of 1946, moving into the house he had built for them on the farm. They worked together on the farm while Ruby continued her teaching career. They always grew apples and raised cattle, and at times, raised chickens or pigs. She continued to live in that house that Howard had built until 2015 when she moved to the Lazy R Personal Care Home in Blairsville.Ruby's family was her pride and joy. She was always willing to help them in any way and was thrilled to keep her grandchildren whenever the opportunity arose. And she couldn't have been more excited than when the great grandchildren began to arrive. She enjoyed them, everyone!She was a member of Epworth First Baptist Church, Fannin Regional Pink Ladies Auxiliary, Retired Educators of Fannin County and was a charter member of Delta Kappa Gamma International, Beta Epsilon Chapter. Ruby was preceded in death by her husband Howard, her parents John and Nellie Wimpey, brother Charlie Wimpey, sisters Ethel Rawlins and Charlene Ash. Surviving are her daughter and family - Patricia and Danny Brown, Carlton Brown, Becky and Brannon Dyer, Rachel and Robby Brown, Parks Brown, Justice Dyer, Ruby Katherine Dyer, and Sarah Burns Brown. Extended family includes brothers- and sisters-in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins. She also had many friends who admired her spunk and determination.Funeral Services for Mrs. Parks were held Sunday afternoon at two o'clock at Epworth First Baptist Church with interment in the church cemetery. Rev. Dr. Tom Jordan and Rev. Stanley Ritter officiated the services. Music was provided by Rev. Doug Simonds and Barbara Cheatham. Pallbearers were Tony Rogers, Sheldon Henderson, Carson Ownbey, Charles Corbin, Jim Taylor, Jerry Guthrie and Robby Russell. Friends and family wishing to make a memorial in Ruby's memory may choose one of the following: Georgia Baptist Children's Home, P.O. Box 329, Palmetto, GA 30268, Retired Educators of Fannin County Scholarship Fund, C/O Faye Sisson, P.O. Box 2203, Blue Ridge, GA 30513, or First Baptist Church of Epworth, P.O. Box 187, Epworth, GA 30541. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge was in charge of the arrangements. . SERVICES Visitation Saturday, August 20, 2016 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Akins Funeral Home - Blue Ridge 7871 Blue Ridge Drive Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513 Funeral Service Sunday, August 21, 2016 2:00 PM First Baptist Church of Epworth 447 Madola Rd Epworth, GA 30541