Ruby Lee Haugh was born at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. on November 10, 1932, the daughter of William Thomas Rowe, a U.S. Army career officer, and his wife, Mamie Lee.  While growing up, she moved frequently with her family as her father was stationed at military bases throughout the United States.  When her father was sent to the Pacific in WWII, the family moved home to Covington, Georgia.  She loved traveling by train as a child and talked about the time she, at age 15, crossed the country by train from Seattle, WA to Georgia with two of her younger brothers in tow during one of her father's duty station changes.  Her father, mother and youngest brother had traveled separately.  Such was the life of a military family.

A year after graduating from Newton County High School in Georgia, and while living with her parents at Fort Hood, TX, she met and married PFC Edward Michael Haugh from Brooklyn, NY.  Ed was also a career soldier and thus she continued her military life as a military wife.  Ruby and Ed lived throughout their 63 years together in TX, KY, VA, TN, LA, GA and two assignments to Germany, where three out of their four children were born.  When Ed was deployed overseas to Korea and Vietnam, Ruby held down the fort until he returned, traveling at one point with a car load of kids to sightsee and visit with family in Georgia and Brooklyn.  Ed and Ruby chose Alexandria, VA for their retirement home after Ed's last duty station in Ft. Belvoir because it was close enough to Brooklyn for Ed and about as far north as Ruby would go.  Alexandria was their home for 45 years.  Ed and Ruby loved to travel and explored the United States and Europe.  Most of their trips also included family—their own brothers and sisters, their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  Few major family occasions were ever missed.  After Ed's death in 2015, Ruby moved to Maryland to be close to family and enjoyed her final years at Sunrise of Severna Park.  Throughout her life, Ruby's passions were music, singing and reading.  She had a beautiful soprano voice and performed for many years with the Alexandria Choral Society.  Ruby is survived by her children, Judy Winters (Jack d.2017), Amy Leahy (Michael), Diana Greenhalgh (Ronald) and Edward Haugh (Patricia); nine grandchildren, Jenny Winters Davidson, Julie Winters Smith, Sara Brode, Douglas Buzbee, Benjamin Haugh, Jessica Haugh Mayne, Jay Greenhalgh, Henry Leahy, Mary Leahy, and 12 great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her brothers, Allan and James Rowe.  Her brother, William, predeceased her.

Family and friends may gather on Saturday, December 8th, 2018 from 11am to 1pm in the Barranco & Sons, P.A Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Hwy. A memorial ceremony will be held at 1pm in the funeral home chapel immediately following the visitation.

Interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at 10am. If you wish to attend please arrive at 9:15am at the administrative building.

Ruby loved dogs so in lieu of flowers, Ruby would be pleased for donations to be made to an animal shelter or to any charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com