Leona Charlene (Sullivan) Ruble was born on Aug. 15, 1938, to Horace and Leona Sullivan in Bakersfield, California. She passed away on Nov. 8, 2023 in Orange, California.

Charlene was a 1956 graduate of Onapa High School. She attended Northeastern State University graduating with a major in Education and a minor in English and Journalism. She was a member of the Sigma, Sigma, Sigma Sorority and co-editor of the Northeastern, the college newspaper. Charlene earned her BA and graduated in three years while working at three on-campus jobs to pay for her tuition and room and board.

Following graduation she accepted a teaching position in La Puente, California and a year later she transferred to Anaheim, California, where she spent over 40 years in various positions including Classroom Teacher, Program Specialist and Vice Principal. She earned her MA in Education Administration from Azusa Pacific University. She was trained in the Slingerland approach for teaching students designated as dyslexic and was a certified key trainer for Project GLAD (Guided Language Acquisition Design). She was a recipient of the Orange County Outstanding Educator Award. Following retirement, she had worked as a consultant for the Southern California School Districts.

During her career she served as President of the Orange County Chapter of CATESOL (California Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) and a representative of TESOL, twice traveling to Washington D.C. to speak with Congressmen on the needs of schools educating English language learners.

She was a member of the North Orange Christian Church Orange, California.

At one time she was a member of the Republican Women of Orange, and the Assistance League of Orange.

She loved to travel and enjoyed trips to Europe as well as several destinations within the United States.

She is survived by her son David Todd Ruble of Orange, Ca., a brother Ray Sullivan of Checotah, Okla. and nieces and nephews, Laura Sullivan, Madison Sullivan, Kimberly, Michelle, Chris, Jeff, Ariana Peyton and Kennedy.

She was preceded in death by her husband William David Ruble, sisters Linda Darlene Perkins and Kathleen Sullivan, her mother Leona Sullivan and father Horace Sullivan.