Ruby Ellen Garner passed peacefully at her Solomons home on September 23, 2022, just months before her 100th birthday. Born January 24, 1923, in Olivet, Maryland, Ellen was the first child born to William Rudolph “Ruby” and Sue Elizabeth Lusby Dixon. Baby brother William, known as Bill D, would join the family 18 years later.

During her childhood, the school boat ferried Ellen and other youngsters across Mill Creek to Solomons to attend classes in the building which today houses the administrative offices of the Calvert Marine Museum. At the time, high school graduation required eleven years of study, which Ellen completed. That also is where she met the young man who would become her partner for life, Creston Orville Garner.

Watermen and farming families joined together to celebrate the marriage of Ellen and Orville on May 31, 1941, at Olivet Methodist Church, just up the road from where she was born and reared. Ellen recalled that the church was decorated with orange blossoms that came “from Grandmother Susie’s yard” and native mountain laurel blooming wild in the woods. Cake and other flowers came from Baltimore, delivered on the bread truck.

Ellen shared that her ring cost $8 in Baltimore, and she splurged with another $8 on a pale blue dress to wear for her wedding. The dress later would serve as her Sunday garb. As Ellen explained, you had two sets of clothes: one for Sunday and another for everyday wearing.

Ellen and Orville made their home in Baltimore and Olivet before settling in Dowell (now part of Solomons) in 1948. They welcomed six children: Creston Orville, Jr., known as Bud; Robert Dixon; Benjamin Rudolph; SueEllen; Jayne Denise; and David, who died at birth. In addition to David, Orville preceded Ellen in death, as did Robert, and former daughter-in-law Carol Kaufmann Garner.

A renowned homemaker, Ellen also served as a secretary in Baltimore, a technician at the Chesapeake Biology Lab cataloging specimens, a cook and waitress ­at the D&L Snack Bar, a cashier at Woodburn’s grocery store (which today is the CD Cafe), and in leadership roles with Al-Anon. Ellen loved her family and caring for them, especially through her gift of baking. She enjoyed kneading yeast-roll dough until “it sang” to her. Ellen also was the repository of family history, reveling in sharing tidbits about ancestors and other relatives. Having witnessed nearly a century of progress and change in Calvert County, she never was at a loss for a story.

Survivors include daughters SueEllen Garner, and Jayne and husband Perry Hatch, daughter-in-law Chris Stelloh-Garner, and former daughter-in-law Ann Burgess Garner; and sons Bud and wife Cula Garner, and Ben and wife Pilar Garner.  Brother Bill D and wife Diane Dixon survive her, as do brother-in-law Tilden and wife Diann Garner. In addition, eight grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, four great-great grandkids, and numerous nieces and nephews carry on Ellen’s legacy.

Celebration of Ellen’s life will take place at St. Paul UMC, 11000 H.G. Trueman Rd., Lusby, MD 20657 on October 3, 2022. Visitation at 10 AM, followed by services at 11 AM and burial in St Paul’s cemetery. Officiants are the Rev. Myungha Baek of St. Paul UMC, the Rev. Linda Motter of Calvary UMC in Annapolis, and the Rev. Alex Thomas of Olivet UMC in Lusby.

Should you care to make a contribution in Ellen’s memory, please consider St. Paul UMC; Olivet UMC at 13575 Olivet Rd., Lusby, MD 20657; or SMILE Food Pantry, PO Box 1725, Lusby, MD 20657.