The Vicksburg Post prints obituaries in news form for area residents, their family members and for former residents at no charge. Families wishing to publish additional information or to use specific wording have the option of a paid obituary.

Ruby Eichelberger Kirkman.

SEARCY, Ark. – Ruby Eichelberger Kirkman, resident of Searcy, Ark., and formerly of Vicksburg and Bolton, Miss., died Saturday, July 15, 2006, in Searcy. She was 90 years of age.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bolton Cemetery in Bolton.

Mrs. Kirkman was born Oct. 3, 1915, in Bolton, the daughter of Henry and Leona Eichelberger. She retired from a nursing career at Mercy Hospital in Vicksburg after 28 years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Searcy.

Survivors include her son, Ira Kirkman and wife, Peggy, of Searcy; seven grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a host of very special nieces and nephews.

Her parents, three siblings, husband George Kirkman and a son, William Gordon Kirkman, preceded her in death.

Ruby was widely known for her sense of humor, positive outlook, Southern cooking, giving spirit and love of God. She loved coffee time at Harding Place where she could &#8220hold court” with her jokes and laughter. She loved &#8220brightening the day” of the staff she loved at Byrd Haven. Her day was always brightened by the many visits from her dear friends at First Baptist Church she knew briefly, but dearly. She joked that her name was Ruby because &#8220she was a jewel.”

Ruby’s biscuits, fried pies and chocolate meringue pie always brought blue ribbons at fairs. She was an ambassador for Vicksburg, and she always encouraged people to visit the town that she loved, noting the highlights of the military park, Big Muddy, Solly’s Tamales and Goldie’s Barbecue.

Ruby was widowed at 35 with two teenage sons and lived through the Depression on a farm in the South. She was a breast cancer survivor. The godly qualities of perseverance, encouragement and faith were her lessons to those who knew her. Storytelling was her fort