SCOOBY-DOO CO-CREATOR JOE RUBY PASSES AWAY AT 87

One of the masterminds behind the all-time favourite children's animation, Scooby-Doo, Joe Ruby, has passed away at the age of 87.

The animation writer and executive was born in Los Angeles in 1933 and passed away due to natural causes on Wednesday in Village, California.  

According to Ruby's obituary, he enlisted in the US Navy during the Korean war where he served on a destroyer as a sonar operator, right after he graduated from Fairfax High School.

The original series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? was created in 1969. The series involved a Great Dane named Scooby-Doo and his human companions, Shaggy, Fred, Velma and Daphne, solving mysteries which involved catching supernatural creatures.

The enormous success of Scooby-Doo ensured the writers numerous follow-up and spin-off animated series. Scooby-Doo was also created into two big budget Hollywood live action films starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr.

In an interview with ScoobyAddicts.com, Joe and partner Ken Spears were asked if they were surprised by the success of Scooby-Doo.

Adding to to the beloved children's classic, Ruby and Spears created shows such as Dynomutt and Jabberjaw.

"We were worried it wouldn't last but one season, much less 38 years. It was up against The Hardy Boys on NBC and we thought we'd get clobbered in the ratings," said Spears. 

Ruby lived a wonderful life with his wife of sixty-three years, Carole and their four children, Cliff Ruby (Elana), Deanna Zevin, Craig Ruby (Flor), Debby Winsberg (Lew), which added ten grandchildren in total to the family.