Mrs. Ruth Haston Brisbois

Ruth Haston Brisbois died on October 8, 2022 at Willson Hospice in Albany, GA. She was 96. Ruth Moore Haston was born February 9, 1926 in Albany, GA. Despite the stock market crash three years later and the ensuing depression, she had a happy childhood. She was much loved by her parents, Jessie Bernice Moore and Hugh Brady Haston, her adoring older brother, Hugh Brady Haston, Jr. and many dear friends. The onset of WWII brought dramatic change to Albany with the arrival of Army Air Corps cadets for pilot training at Turner Air Field. At a USO dance in 1942, Ruth met Ralph Edwin Lamma. Seeing her across a crowded room, he declared his intention to marry her. They were wed the day after Ruth graduated from Albany High, June 5, 1942. She was barely 16. She and Ralph were eventually transferred to Mitchel Field on Long Island. Never one to miss an opportunity for excitement, Ruth, though great with child, took to riding the elevator with other wives at the base…hoping for the chance ride with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. who was briefly stationed there. 1943 brought the happy arrival of a son, Ralph Edwin Lamma, Jr. and the tragic death in November of her husband who was killed in action on a bombing mission over Germany. At the time, he was a B-24 pilot based at Wendling Air Field in Norfolk, England. Ruth and son Ralph (Butch as he was called) continued life in Albany, where Paul Henry Winter, a widower from Omaha, NE, with two daughters, Nancy Ann and Sandra Lee, came into their lives. Like Ralph, Paul also declared his intention to marry Ruth after first meeting her at C&S Bank, where she was working as a teller. Given Ruth’s anticipation of the complexity of blended families, it took a bit of convincing on Paul’s part; but, throwing caution to the wind, they wed on July 5, 1947. Paul adopted Butch and the following year saw the arrival of their only child, Bunny. The family was complete. During the fifties and sixties, Ruth raised the family, supporting Paul in his decision to transition to a civil service career in order to keep the family in Albany. During that time, she served in various leadership roles with the Albany Hospital League (now the Albany Junior League). She was a pillar of support at First Methodist Church working in the church office for years. She attended Sunday School and church there faithfully until prevented by the pandemic. Paul died in 1979 after 32 years of happy marriage. In 1982, Ruth married Clayton Thomas Brisbois, a marriage that ended too soon with Clayton’s death in 1985. Widowed 3 times, Ruth vowed never to marry again. But her dear friend, Betty McKemie, persuaded her to go out with her brother, Jim Bonser (James Gordon Bonser). Eventually, when Jim pressed the question of marriage, Ruth replied with her trademark sense of humor, “Why would you ever want to marry me? I’m obviously the kiss of death.” They never married, but had 20 years of great happiness, traveling with friends and family, in the US and abroad, and enjoying life in Albany. Ruth Moore Haston Lamma Winter Brisbois was a woman of many strengths and talents. She and her mother created stunning couture clothing for Bunny from childhood through college. The prospect of having to buy “off the rack” clothing was such a disappointment for Bunny when she moved to Atlanta that she would spend long weekends in Albany to accommodate fittings. Ruth was a loving, supportive, and occasionally maverick, grandmother to her extended family grandchildren, routinely besting Bunny’s boys at arm wrestling until they were well into high school and bribing them to give up smoking with all sorts of financial incentives. Her athleticism extended to swinging from the vines in the woods near her home on Robin Hood Road before development took them out. She was close to 40 at the time. She loved to travel, joining Bunny on business trips in Europe and NY or annual trips to Canyon Ranch and Butch on group trips he organized to England, Bavaria, and other destinations. Her travel continued until, as she put it, “I can get ready to go…or I can go. But I can’t do both.” Ruth was a person everyone wanted to call “friend”. She was a constant source of encouragement and reassurance to her children. Her lifelong mantra, “Do your very best. The angels in Heaven can’t do any better.” drives their behavior still. She was a woman of great faith. Her faith and her lifelong ability to reinvent her life when tragedy and adversity required were an example to family and friends alike. Ruth is survived by her children, Ralph (Butch) Winter, Bunny Winter (Michael Doyle), and Nancy Winter Huggins (Bill), grandchildren John Michael Doyle (Lori), David James Doyle (Michele), Peter Fenton Doyle (Patti), Robert Lee Huggins (Angela), Amy Putnam Issleib (Todd), Robert Leslie Putnam (Sylvia), beloved nieces and nephew (children of her brother, Hugh Haston), 20 great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren and more friends than can be counted. She was predeceased by her daughter, Sandra Winter Putnam, and her grandson, Richard Franklin Huggins. The family wishes to express love and appreciation for Frances Robinson for her care of Ruth and to Patsy Watson, her much loved friend. A celebration of Ruth’s life will take place at 11 am, November 5, in the sanctuary at First United Methodist Church Albany. A reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Willson Hospice House, First United Methodist Church Albany, or the charity of your choice. You may sign our online guestbook and share your own special thoughts with the family of Mrs. Brisbois by visiting Kimbrell-Stern’s website at www.kimbrellstern.com.

Mrs. Ruth Haston Brisbois

February 9, 1926 - October 8, 2022