October 5, 1936 – June 8, 2024

Former 99, Ruby Dickerson, flew home on June 8^th. Her niece and Alabama 99, Amaris Robinson, hopes to connect with any of her Aunt Ruby’s former friends or students.  Alabama Chapter members remember Ruby as “an honored member of the Alabama 99s and treasured friend,” “a well-known member loved by all,” and “we will all miss her.”

Ruby was an active pilot and CFI in the Birmingham, AL area from the 70’s through the early 1990’s. She was an instructor for at least 20 years, and proud of all her students. She had a long career as a building engineer at Bellsouth, but flying and instructing was her passion! 

Ruby earned her private pilot’s certificate in 1963, and she delighted in her second career as a certified flight instructor. She loved teaching students how to fly, and she especially loved overturning the assumptions of the time that a little woman like her couldn’t possibly be the pilot! Aviation was her passion, and she inspired many people to earn their wings! She especially hoped to be an inspiration to girls, “that they could do it too if I could.” She loved telling her flying stories, but she also liked to say, with a twinkle in her eye, that there were stories she would never tell, “but I survived them!” She was proud of all her students, and she especially treasured her memories of instructing Nascar champion and friend Davey Allison for his single engine rating. She mourned his tragic death in the helicopter crash for many years. She used to say she warned him to stay away from helicopters! 

Amaris was definitely inspired by her Aunt Ruby to pursue her private pilot’s certificate, which she earned last November at the age of 47. “I was so proud to tell her the day I passed my checkride! My only regret is that I was never able to take her flying, since her health prevented it, but she loved to hear about our flying adventures. My husband and my son are also pilots – we own a Cessna 182 and a Diamond DA 42 that we use both for fun and travel, and in conjunction with our business.”

Amaris adds, “it was my privilege to take care of her and my Uncle John in their later years, as they both faced living with dementia. To the end, they both cherished their flying memories. Other memories slipped away, but not her most treasured flying memories!”

Ruby’s obituary can be found at: https://www.lairdfh.com/obituary/ruby-katherine-smith-dickerson