Harriet Goode Reubush died on April 7, 2020, in Raleigh, NC, age 95, of respiratory failure. Born in New Castle on August 2, 1924, to piano teacher Hattie Belle and farmer Ralph Goode, she was a life-long Virginian, attending Virginia Tech where she met her husband, Robert Reubush.
After graduating with a degree in home economics, they got married on August 25, 1945, lived for a short while in Philadelphia before returning to Alexandria, Virginia, where they lived for over 60 years. “Harriet Homemaker” was a dietician in hospitals before having her two daughters (Lynne “Dave” Anderson of Fraser, CO, and San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico and Nancy “Terry” Brenneman of Raleigh, NC) and raising them to love food (lots of goodies upon returning home from school, Christmas cookies) and “Teddy Bear Picnics.”
Harriet was a fastidious housekeeper. One couldn’t go shopping in downtown DC without cleaning all the bathrooms. Nor could her daughters leave for school without making the beds, because if there were a fire, the fireman would see an unmade bed – there was never a fire. She looked forward to gatherings with her “home ec” friends, testing some of the early frozen foods for Birds Eye that have become staples of grocery shopping. She returned to work in 1967 to run a school cafeteria. Everyone praised the food, but she quickly transitioned into a kindergarten teacher, her true passion. She taught in Fairfax County schools for over 20 years. Because “Reubush” was difficult to pronounce, she was alternately call “Mrs. Rosebush.”
She retired when her long-term hearing loss prevented her from understanding the children. After retirement Harriet and Bob volunteered at the Bush Hill United Presbyterian Church, where she and husband Bob were charter members (1958) and at the church’s Day School. Harriet was a beloved honorary grandmother at the school for many years.
She adored her time with the school’s two-year-olds—and the staff members. After Bob’s death, she moved to Raleigh to be near her daughter Nancy. However, she always considered herself a Virginian. She will long be remembered for her southwest Virginia accent (line became “lion” after one student was instructed to draw one), her smile, chuckle and genuine love of children.
In addition to her daughters, she is survived by two grandchildren (Carrie Brenneman [Jay] Galloway of New York City and Carter Brenneman of Raleigh), two great-grandchildren Celia and Eliza Galloway, her brother Ralph [Peggy]Goode of Abilene, TX, and nieces and nephews and friends. She was predeceased by her parents, husband and brother J.C. Hinkle. A private family graveside service will be held in the future in Cross Keys, Virginia. Donations may be made to Bush Hill Presbyterian Day School, 4916 Franconia Rd., Alexandria, VA 22310.
