Richard A. "Dick" Ruth

RUTH—Richard A. “Dick,” 100, Geistown, croaked on August 20, 2024. Dick’s soul did not go shooting straight up to Heaven like everybody else’s does, but made a detour to Purgatory where he will remain until he is purified enough to stand before his all-perfect maker. Born June 13, 1924, on the feast day of St. Anthony, to whom he had a life-long devotion because of the many favors he received through his intercession. He was born to Leo and Florence (Karr) Ruth. Preceded in death by great-great-grandparents; parents; wife, Dorothy (Kokoruda), brothers, Bob, Bill and John and sisters, Mary Dolores Vaught and Barbara Ann Boxler and her husband, James. Survived by brother, Paul and numerous nieces and nephews. He had the unique distinction of marrying for the first time on his 65th birthday. (Search the Business Book of Records to top that one.) Dick had a lot of self-respect after he realized his wife Dorothy waited for 50 years for that perfect man to come along and she settled for him. He failed miserably in his youthful dream to fill his “uncle” Babe Ruth’s baseball shoes. He was the proud eccentric life-long driver for 44 years of old, big used cars until he finally broke down and bought a new one. Well known for his German thriftiness (or if you wish, his Teutonic miserliness). Not for the money he hoarded, but for the things he saved. Actually, Dick was one of the few Catholics who tithed, and in later years, sometimes he double tithed. Benevolent grower of tulips and daffodils. Dick, who was influenced by the well-kept graves he saw in the cemeteries of Germany, worked hard through the years to keep the graves of his beloved dead well adorned with tulips in the spring, and summer flowers throughout the rest of the growing season. He hated violence and sex on TV, hence, he watched little or no TV. Ace trouble shooter and number on pneumatical engineer for the former GTE Telephone Company. Self-appointed and self-acclaimed defender of the faith. Faithful, active member of the Cursillo movement since 1976. Auxiliary member of the Legion of Mary. Strong opponent of abortion and pornography. Ardent crusader against cigarette smoking. He was quick to point out that he outlived many of his smoking contemporaries. He was a frequent contributor to the “Readers Forum” of the Tribune-Democrat and “Letters to the Editor” of the Catholic Register. Co-founder and faithful member of St. Benedict’s Pro-Life prayer group since 1979. In-active, card-carrying member of the Knights of Columbus, like so many of his brother Knights. Feeble evangelizer of Jesus Christ. Faithful member of the St. Benedict Choir from 1959 until 1995 when he got too old to “cut the mustard.” He rated himself among the top 20 singers in the St. Benedict Parish, a view shared by almost no one. Well known for his heart-felt rendition of “Danny Boy” which he plans to sing at his own funeral, in spite of the fact that his voice has deteriorated. Dick was survived by neither a cat nor a dog. However, he was survived by a colony of squirrels and also by chipmunks who saw fit to claim his premises as their domain. Dick and Dorothy had no children and surprisingly enough, no grandchildren. But they had this consolation: none of their children or grandchildren are going to Hell! Not everyone can say this with such certainty. Dick was an eccentric, counter-cultural person. He had no interest in what the culture was interested in. His main interest Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church (in spite of its many shortcomings), and the scripture. He also had a great love for poetry and the psalms. It would take him over an hour to recite the poems and psalms he had memorized. As stated by Dick, “To those who view my mortal remains, know thee this: I really was not this handsome while alive. It just goes to show you that Bill Harris and his staff know how to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.” This obituary was crafted and written by Dick himself over the last 25 years. He proudly wrote it and revised it over the years so that it stated exactly what he wanted to it to say. The family will receive friends from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Saturday, August 31, 2024, at Harris Funeral Home, 500 Cherry Lane, Richland followed by Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 31, 2024 at St. Benedict Catholic Church, Fr. David S. Peles Pastor officiating. Entombment, St. Joseph Cemetery Mausoleum under the mosaic of St. Joseph, the patron saint of a happy death, and under whose watchful protection his remains will lie until doomsday. In lieu of flowers, Dick requests that all his smoking friends (few though they may be) stop smoking for one day in his memory. Online condolences may be posted at www.wharrisfuneralhome.com