Ruby Virginia Mccloud Mattern

Ruby Virginia McCloud Mattern died peacefully at her home in Salem on Wednesday, July 11, 2012, five months shy of her 100th birthday. She was the widow of Guilford Lee Mattern. Mrs. Mattern was born December 23,1912 in Norfolk, Virginia to Bettie Stevens McCloud and George Roland McCloud. She attended grade school and high school in Norfolk, graduating from Maury High School. She attended William and Mary - Norfolk where she was awarded the college's first academic scholarship. After two years she transferred to Harrisonburg State Teachers College, now James Madison University, graduating in 1934. She was inducted into Kappa Delta Pi honorary society. She then moved to Arlington, Virginia where she taught mathematics at Washington - Lee High School and met her future husband. In 1936 Ruby and Guil were married in Norfolk. They lived first in Arlington, then in Richmond, then in Arlington again during World War II while Guil served in the Army Corps of Engineers. In 1946 they moved to Salem when Guil and his brother Ed formed Mattern and Mattern Engineers. They lived in Salem the rest of their lives. Mrs. Mattern was a member of the First United Methodist Church where she was active with the Methodist Women. She also belonged to the Raleigh Court Book Club. She played a little golf and a lot of bridge, but her real love was cooking. A few weeks before her death she insisted that her caregiver help her make a coffeecake. She leaves behind a vast treasure trove of recipes. Surviving are her daughters Betty Mattern York and partner Bruce Michelsen of Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Virginia Mattern Wigginton and husband James of Hilton Head, South Carolina, grandchildren Virginia York Setzer and husband Jerry, Guilford Mattern York and wife Melanie and Ann Wigginton Cox and husband Richard and great - grandchildren Charles and Bennett Setzer, Mary Poyner York and Corrin Cox. The family would like to thank the kind and caring ladies of Sitter Solutions and of Good Samaritan Hospice. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 28, 2012 at 11 a.m.at First United Methodist Church in Salem with Reverend Stephen Bray officiating. The family will receive friends at the church following the ceremony. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, 125 West Main St., Salem, Virginia 24153 Good Samaritan Hospice, 2408 Electric Rd. Roanoke, Virginia 24018 or to the Salem Rescue Squad, 201 South Broad St. Post Office Box 291 Salem, Virginia 24153. Arrangements by John M. Oakey and Son Funeral Home and Crematory, Salem. 540-389-5441