Ruby Lee (Spruell) Wilson, AKA by many at FBC Killeen as “Nonnie,” was born in 1912 in Brookhaven, Texas, which was between Owl Creek and Cowhouse Creek. Brookhaven was taken over by the military, becoming part of Camp Hood. Her family home was incorporated into Camp Hood, as well, causing them to be moved to Hood Village in 1942, a relocation site, where she later established a library and directed the recreation program. Nonnie attended Avenue D School (THE school in KISD at the time) and graduated in 1932. She was baptized by Pastor John M. Hunt at First Baptist Church, Killeen, in 1931 in the old red brick building in downtown Killeen. She married Roy Bailey Wilson in 1933 at First Baptist Church, Killeen. All three of her children (Lee Bailey, Adelia Ann, and Billy Gayle) were born in Killeen and attended FBC from the time they were born. After her husband died unexpectedly in 1957, she began working at First Baptist Killeen as the financial secretary in 1958. She recorded all offerings and gifts, sent out financial statements to all church members for income tax purposes, paid the bills, and took care of all the budgets and accounts of the church. As FBC grew, the work load grew as well, especially since most of her work was done manually in the years before computers and automation. She often took work home with her to keep up with the workload. Her granddaughter, Karen Sue Weiss, remembers helping Nonnie alphabetize the offering envelopes for each church member; these boxes of envelopes were set out on long tables in the hallways for members to pick up as they made their way to the sanctuary. Ruby Lee served in many areas of church work, including being an officer in the WMU (Women’s Missionary Union), being Superintendent of both Training Union and Sunday School, working with the Youth Department, and serving on various church-appointed committees. She taught the Lois Women’s Sunday School class for many, many years, and was always proud to say that if you promoted from this class, your promotion was to heaven! Mrs. Wilson worked as the financial secretary for FBC Killeen for 27 years, and the church had a “Ruby Lee Wilson Day” on June 30, 1985. Then Killeen Mayor Allen Cloud also designated June 30, 1985, as “Ruby Lee Wilson Day” in the City of Killeen.

Retirement did not slow her down. Nonnie continued serving in her church, teaching her Sunday School class, being an officer for WMU, and volunteering at the Food Care Center as their financial secretary. She also found time to take up bowling, winning the Gold Medal at the 198l Texas Pepsi Games in the senior citizen category. Then she added javelin throwing (Wouldn’t David have been so proud to have her at his back?), billiards, shot put, and basketball free throwing, bringing home gold, silver, and bronze medals.

Karen, her granddaughter, had this to say about Nonnie. “Our grandmother, ‘Nonnie,’ was such a special person; writing a few lines about her doesn’t even begin to do her justice. I’m sure each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren have their own Nonnie stories; I will try to speak for all of us. Whenever we would need Nonnie, she was there. She invested countless nights at our bedsides, watching over us when we were very sick. Whenever someone was hurt or in need, Nonnie was always the first one for us to tell because we were convinced that she had a hotline to Heaven! She lived every day of her life for the Lord and could always find something good in every person and in every situation. She touched so many lives in such a positive, lasting manner, yet, she was extremely humble! The only thing about her that really bothered me is that she consistently beat me at bowling, putt-putt, and forty-two dominoes. We loved our Nonnie very much and know our lives would have been very different without her influence. If I can aspire to be one-half the Christian that Nonnie was, then one day I, too, will hear the Lord say, ‘Well done, my child.’”

Ruby Lee Wilson’s entire adult life was intertwined with FBC Killeen. She could always be found in attendance on Sunday mornings and evenings, Wednesday night prayer meetings, and revivals. She was always “in her place,” her pew, with her Bible at her side. Ruby Lee was a faithful church member for 73 years until her passing in September, 2004. She loved the Lord with her whole heart and spent the majority of her life serving Jesus. She witnessed to many, many people and was a mighty prayer warrior.