Kenneth Ruben West, 59 of Lenox, Georgia, passed away on Thursday, December 25, 2026 at the Haven Hospice Suwannee Valley Care Center in Lake City, Florida.

Ruben was truly one of a kind. In 2010, Ruben started working with Steve Summer Farms. In 2017, Steve passed. Ruben continued working with his son, Thomas (Thomas Sumner Farms).  Ruben "Ruby" wasn't just an employee—he was family. He ran bulldozers, excavators, and tractors, and he did it with skill, pride, and care. If there was work to be done, Ruben was there, steady and dependable, doing the job right. Ruben believed in hard work. The farm wasn't just where he worked—it was home. Those who worked alongside Ruben knew him as loyal and true. There was never a dull moment when Ruby was around.  In keeping with his wishes, Ruben's ashes will be spread on the farm he helped shape, where he spent so many years and where he will rest among the land he loved. Ruben leaves behind a lasting mark on the farm and in the hearts of all who were proud to work beside him.   Mr. West was preceded in death by his parents, Gene West and Mary Giddens.

Survivors include his sister, Mary Wynn (Robert); two brothers, Gene West, Jr. (Susan) and Toby West; and many extended family and friends including the Thomas Sumner Farms family.

No public services are scheduled at this time.