Who is Ruby Marie?
My grandmother was Ruby Marie Fried. The story that she told me goes like this…
In 1944, Ruby Marie had been married just a couple of years to my grandfather, John. They had gone up to the Northwest part of the country because he was training to be deployed during WWII as an airplane mechanic. Shortly after he left to go to the Pacific, she found out that she was pregnant. Her doctor told her that, “this was a terrible time and you’re all alone. If you’d like, I can help you get rid of this pregnancy.” She told me when she heard that, “I couldn’t get out of that room fast enough.”
That’s the story that started our family – that decision she made – because the baby that she was pregnant with was my father. After she chose life for her unborn baby, my dad, she moved back to Oklahoma, where she lived with her mother and sisters. A few months later, she had the baby. The doctor was wrong. Even in the midst of a world war, she was not alone. She had support from her family.
When my grandfather came home from the war, he met his 18-month-old son for the first time. After that, they started the rest of their family. They had a daughter and another son. The rest of the family has come from that. In total, there have been seven grandchildren, over 21 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Hear the Story:
Ruby Marie was not a person of many words. She and John were humble, sweet, dependable, faithful, stable, good people who didn’t talk about themselves much. She didn’t even tell everyone in the family the story of how she chose life, just a few of us.
They were both people of strong Christian faith. My grandmother gave me a Bible on my eighth birthday, and I cherish it to this day. They also took me to a church event where I heard the gospel for the first time and responded that I wanted to follow Christ. So, I consider them very strong anchors of my faith. They were always the anchors for all of us in the family. It’s a common story, I think, in so many ways. Most people get the best support and strength that only grandparents can bring.
They were a part of my everyday life. They always lived only five or ten minutes away and were at all life events.
How a Choice for Life Affects Generations
I think the essence of Ruby Marie’s story is that this was her decision, but it affected the generations to come. We all have life because she had the courage to hold to her value of life.
She was just three weeks shy of being 93 when she passed away. They were married for 63 years, which is a wonderful legacy for our family. The verse I shared at her funeral was Proverbs 31:10-12, and her name was Ruby, so it was fitting: “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not harm all the days of her life.” That was my grandmother.
My husband, Bryan, and I have supported Save The Storks in different ways for about ten years. Recently, we realized that we love this story of my grandmother’s choice for life because it speaks to the importance of one decision and how it affects generations. So, we wanted to have a bus named after her because we know that Mobile Medical Clinics provides women with the information they need about their pregnancies and the resources they need to choose life.
I’m thankful for the choice my grandmother, Ruby Marie, made. It made all the difference in my life – with all my family. I want to honor her that way.
An Update from the Ruby Marie Bus
Since Ruby Marie’s launch, we’ve been in touch with our partner in Greensboro, North Carolina, and we’re thrilled to share how well the Mobile Medical Clinic has been doing! In just a short time, Ruby Marie has been serving 50 patients a month – that’s over one woman a day who is met with compassion, support, and the encouragement she needs to choose life and change her story.
The clinic’s director shared with us that they frequently tell the story of Ruby Marie’s namesake, which continues to inspire women daily.
This is why we are so passionate about naming our buses. Each name carries a testimony of hope and reminds every woman who steps on board: You CAN do this.
Lydia’s Life-Changing Decision Aboard the Ruby Marie Mobile Clinic
Lydia’s mind was set when she first stepped onto the Ruby Marie Mobile Medical Clinic—she was determined not to continue her pregnancy. After receiving an ultrasound, her decision felt even more firm, and she scheduled an abortion in North Carolina, where the law bans abortion after 12 weeks.
Yet, Lydia couldn’t forget her encounter with the compassionate people aboard Ruby Marie. She stayed in contact with the nurse, who provided ongoing support and encouragement. On the day of her appointment, Lydia arrived at the clinic but couldn’t go through with the abortion. Still unsure, she made another appointment in Washington, D.C., but after seeing another ultrasound, she once again couldn’t bring herself to go through with it.
Ultimately, Lydia returned to North Carolina, choosing to continue her pregnancy. Recently, she gave birth and even brought her newborn to meet the nurse who had stood by her side through it all. Together, they shared a meal on board Ruby Marie, where Lydia now receives resources and support as she embraces motherhood.
