March 2, 2025, 95, Goldsboro —
Ruby Lee Pittman Rains, 95, of Goldsboro, NC passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 2, 2025 after a brief illness and joined the Lord Jesus and a communion of saints she dearly loved. In addition to her parents, Jasper Lee Pittman and Mary Louise Radford Pittman, she was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, William Rowe “Bill” Rains; sister, Janice Cox and brother, Jack Radford Pittman.
Born August 18, 1929, Ruby was a retired Registered Nurse and Super Mom. After earning her degree at Carolina General Nursing School in Wilson, she worked in hospital care for six years; then with her husband Bill Rains (who called her “Red”), raised three boys and a girl as a stay-at-home Mom for 15 years (the siblings were 2- 3 years apart). She then went back to work specializing in Geriatric/Psychiatric nursing at Cherry Hospital for 15 years before retiring in 1989. Ruby also taught Certified Nursing Assistant students at Wayne Community College.
Kind-hearted, Ruby was a sweet soul that offered love to all she met. In her, you could easily find a generous friend. She always put others before herself and wanted to feed anyone who walked in her door, also always trying to think of something she could give you to take with you before you left. Her family said she had a “Julia Roberts” smile.
In raising her children, she served as a Cub Scout Den Mother and supported Debbie’s Girl Scout adventures as well. She saw that everyone got to Scouts, sports, piano lessons, dance lessons, band practice, school events and choir practice. A longtime member of St. Paul Methodist Church, Ruby worshiped faithfully with her church family as her health allowed.
Both before and after retirement, she worked the garden at the family farm alongside Bill, keeping an acre of vegetables every summer for more than 20 years. She loved traveling with Bill to his World War II reunions for many years in over 15 states as well as two trips to Italy to see the places that he served during the war. All four of their children traveled with them whenever possible and met many of their friends from the Greatest Generation.
A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, March 8, 2025, with visitation at 1:00 PM in the parlor of St. Paul Methodist Church, Goldsboro, NC followed by funeral services at 2:00 PM with Rev. James Harry officiating. Burial will follow at the Fellowship Community Church Cemetery, near Princeton, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the charity of one’s choice.
Ruby is survived by her sister, Myra Yeatts of Sumpter, SC, her brother, Jay Paul Pittman of Chesapeake, VA, her children: Steve Rains and wife Lois of Goldsboro, Debbie Rains Davis and husband the Reverend Will Davis of Southport, Tim Rains and wife Julie of Winston-Salem, and Rusty Rains of Atlantic Beach; Grandchildren Amanda Rains Hegarty and husband David of Cary, Jessica Rains Legan of Garner, Stephanie Rains Sugg and husband Jason of Raleigh, Samuel Rowe Rains and wife Lindsey of Puxico, MO, Henry Hall “Hank” Rains of Denver, CO, Ariel Rains Pattillo and husband Chase of New Bern, and Abigail Rains of Clayton; Great-Grandchildren, Adrian, Ava, Jackson, Lily, Jenna, Rains, Claire and Lorelei; and many dear nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The family would like to thank home health care CNAs, Arlene White, Gwen Jacobs and Ashley Spears, for their love and compassion to Bill, Ruby and the entire family over many years.
