Ernest Eugene (Gene) Ruthruff passed away peacefully on October 23, 2022 at the age of 93.
He was born September 8, 1929 in Arlington, Washington, the only child of Opal and Verne Ruthruff.
Shortly after his birth, his parents separated, and he was sent to live with his maternal grandparents who raised him in Arlington.
Dad was in the Army in the early 1950s and drove a semi-truck for a civil defense convoy called "Alert America", which was a campaign to demonstrate the value of preparing for an atomic attack. His team traveled up and down the East Coast, leaving him with many colorful stories of his time in the Army.
In 1951 he began corresponding with Middy Rhoades, whom he met through his cousin and on July 11, 1953 they were married. She passed away last year, the day after their 68th anniversary.
After living in Tillamook Oregon, where their first son Brian was born, our parents returned to Washington and settled in Snohomish. They purchased their first home, which they remodeled extensively and where they raised their family. Dad worked while attending business school at night and upon graduating, was hired by the E.A. Nord Company. He would work for Nord for 34 years, retiring in 1990.
Upon retirement he began puttering in his workshop and before long, had a small business selling pine furniture and custom pieces for a variety of customers. He also spent many hours in his beloved yard and for a few years, our parents joined a trailer group and did some traveling around the state.
His health started to decline in his 80s and he lived in chronic pain, but you would never know it by his constant smile and his love of teasing.
He didn't speak much about his childhood, but we know that not having a family as a child impacted him greatly and the family that he created was the most important thing in the world to him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Brian Ruthruff and his wife Middy.
He is survived by his daughter-in-law Lorna, son Greg, daughter Terri, Jane (Tony Loomis), Jennifer (Brian Powers); 8 grandchildren Chad (Renee} Kyle (Jennifer)
Amy (Lucas) Nina (Mike) Anthony (Chloe) Dustin (Julia) Aaron (Christina) and Regan.
9 Great-Grandchildren, Jacob, Peyton, Gus, Camden, Arlo, Iris, Elliott, Jack and Adaiena.
A memorial was held Friday, November 18th at 1:00 p.m. at the Belle Chapel (231 Avenue B, Snohomish) which was formerly the United Methodist Church where Dad and Mom were married and also celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
The family would like to thank the following people: Bill Huntington for being a wonderful, devoted neighbor to our dad, along with other neighbors who looked out for him. The staff at the Everett Clinic, Dr. Loren Ihle and Dr. Robert Palmer, who always took extra time with dad. The Alpha Hospice care team who helped our dad fulfill his final wishes. The staff at the Buzz Inn in Snohomish, the staff at Collector's Choice restaurant and the Old Inn Tavern, staff and other customers, who always made him feel welcome.
And a big thanks to Jane and Jennifer for being by dad's side in his final weeks, allowing him to pass away at his home as he wished.
Donations in his name may be made to a local animal shelter.
He was born September 8, 1929 in Arlington, Washington, the only child of Opal and Verne Ruthruff.
Shortly after his birth, his parents separated, and he was sent to live with his maternal grandparents who raised him in Arlington.
Dad was in the Army in the early 1950s and drove a semi-truck for a civil defense convoy called "Alert America", which was a campaign to demonstrate the value of preparing for an atomic attack. His team traveled up and down the East Coast, leaving him with many colorful stories of his time in the Army.
In 1951 he began corresponding with Middy Rhoades, whom he met through his cousin and on July 11, 1953 they were married. She passed away last year, the day after their 68th anniversary.
After living in Tillamook Oregon, where their first son Brian was born, our parents returned to Washington and settled in Snohomish. They purchased their first home, which they remodeled extensively and where they raised their family. Dad worked while attending business school at night and upon graduating, was hired by the E.A. Nord Company. He would work for Nord for 34 years, retiring in 1990.
Upon retirement he began puttering in his workshop and before long, had a small business selling pine furniture and custom pieces for a variety of customers. He also spent many hours in his beloved yard and for a few years, our parents joined a trailer group and did some traveling around the state.
His health started to decline in his 80s and he lived in chronic pain, but you would never know it by his constant smile and his love of teasing.
He didn't speak much about his childhood, but we know that not having a family as a child impacted him greatly and the family that he created was the most important thing in the world to him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Brian Ruthruff and his wife Middy.
He is survived by his daughter-in-law Lorna, son Greg, daughter Terri, Jane (Tony Loomis), Jennifer (Brian Powers); 8 grandchildren Chad (Renee} Kyle (Jennifer)
Amy (Lucas) Nina (Mike) Anthony (Chloe) Dustin (Julia) Aaron (Christina) and Regan.
9 Great-Grandchildren, Jacob, Peyton, Gus, Camden, Arlo, Iris, Elliott, Jack and Adaiena.
A memorial was held Friday, November 18th at 1:00 p.m. at the Belle Chapel (231 Avenue B, Snohomish) which was formerly the United Methodist Church where Dad and Mom were married and also celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
The family would like to thank the following people: Bill Huntington for being a wonderful, devoted neighbor to our dad, along with other neighbors who looked out for him. The staff at the Everett Clinic, Dr. Loren Ihle and Dr. Robert Palmer, who always took extra time with dad. The Alpha Hospice care team who helped our dad fulfill his final wishes. The staff at the Buzz Inn in Snohomish, the staff at Collector's Choice restaurant and the Old Inn Tavern, staff and other customers, who always made him feel welcome.
And a big thanks to Jane and Jennifer for being by dad's side in his final weeks, allowing him to pass away at his home as he wished.
Donations in his name may be made to a local animal shelter.
Ernest Eugene (Gene) Ruthruff passed away peacefully on October 23, 2022 at the age of 93.
He was born September 8, 1929 in Arlington, Washington, the only child of Opal and Verne Ruthruff.
Shortly after his birth, his parents separated, and he was sent to live with his maternal grandparents who raised him in Arlington.
Dad was in the Army in the early 1950s and drove a semi-truck for a civil defense convoy called "Alert America", which was a campaign to demonstrate the value of preparing for an atomic attack. His team traveled up and down the East Coast, leaving him with many colorful stories of his time in the Army.
In 1951 he began corresponding with Middy Rhoades, whom he met through his cousin and on July 11, 1953 they were married. She passed away last year, the day after their 68th anniversary.
After living in Tillamook Oregon, where their first son Brian was born, our parents returned to Washington and settled in Snohomish. They purchased their first home, which they remodeled extensively and where they raised their family. Dad worked while attending business school at night and upon graduating, was hired by the E.A. Nord Company. He would work for Nord for 34 years, retiring in 1990.
Upon retirement he began puttering in his workshop and before long, had a small business selling pine furniture and custom pieces for a variety of customers. He also spent many hours in his beloved yard and for a few years, our parents joined a trailer group and did some traveling around the state.
His health started to decline in his 80s and he lived in chronic pain, but you would never know it by his constant smile and his love of teasing.
He didn't speak much about his childhood, but we know that not having a family as a child impacted him greatly and the family that he created was the most important thing in the world to him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Brian Ruthruff and his wife Middy.
He is survived by his daughter-in-law Lorna, son Greg, daughter Terri, Jane (Tony Loomis), Jennifer (Brian Powers); 8 grandchildren Chad (Renee} Kyle (Jennifer)
Amy (Lucas) Nina (Mike) Anthony (Chloe) Dustin (Julia) Aaron (Christina) and Regan.
9 Great-Grandchildren, Jacob, Peyton, Gus, Camden, Arlo, Iris, Elliott, Jack and Adaiena.
A memorial was held Friday, November 18th at 1:00 p.m. at the Belle Chapel (231 Avenue B, Snohomish) which was formerly the United Methodist Church where Dad and Mom were married and also celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
The family would like to thank the following people: Bill Huntington for being a wonderful, devoted neighbor to our dad, along with other neighbors who looked out for him. The staff at the Everett Clinic, Dr. Loren Ihle and Dr. Robert Palmer, who always took extra time with dad. The Alpha Hospice care team who helped our dad fulfill his final wishes. The staff at the Buzz Inn in Snohomish, the staff at Collector's Choice restaurant and the Old Inn Tavern, staff and other customers, who always made him feel welcome.
And a big thanks to Jane and Jennifer for being by dad's side in his final weeks, allowing him to pass away at his home as he wished.
Donations in his name may be made to a local animal shelter.
He was born September 8, 1929 in Arlington, Washington, the only child of Opal and Verne Ruthruff.
Shortly after his birth, his parents separated, and he was sent to live with his maternal grandparents who raised him in Arlington.
Dad was in the Army in the early 1950s and drove a semi-truck for a civil defense convoy called "Alert America", which was a campaign to demonstrate the value of preparing for an atomic attack. His team traveled up and down the East Coast, leaving him with many colorful stories of his time in the Army.
In 1951 he began corresponding with Middy Rhoades, whom he met through his cousin and on July 11, 1953 they were married. She passed away last year, the day after their 68th anniversary.
After living in Tillamook Oregon, where their first son Brian was born, our parents returned to Washington and settled in Snohomish. They purchased their first home, which they remodeled extensively and where they raised their family. Dad worked while attending business school at night and upon graduating, was hired by the E.A. Nord Company. He would work for Nord for 34 years, retiring in 1990.
Upon retirement he began puttering in his workshop and before long, had a small business selling pine furniture and custom pieces for a variety of customers. He also spent many hours in his beloved yard and for a few years, our parents joined a trailer group and did some traveling around the state.
His health started to decline in his 80s and he lived in chronic pain, but you would never know it by his constant smile and his love of teasing.
He didn't speak much about his childhood, but we know that not having a family as a child impacted him greatly and the family that he created was the most important thing in the world to him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Brian Ruthruff and his wife Middy.
He is survived by his daughter-in-law Lorna, son Greg, daughter Terri, Jane (Tony Loomis), Jennifer (Brian Powers); 8 grandchildren Chad (Renee} Kyle (Jennifer)
Amy (Lucas) Nina (Mike) Anthony (Chloe) Dustin (Julia) Aaron (Christina) and Regan.
9 Great-Grandchildren, Jacob, Peyton, Gus, Camden, Arlo, Iris, Elliott, Jack and Adaiena.
A memorial was held Friday, November 18th at 1:00 p.m. at the Belle Chapel (231 Avenue B, Snohomish) which was formerly the United Methodist Church where Dad and Mom were married and also celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
The family would like to thank the following people: Bill Huntington for being a wonderful, devoted neighbor to our dad, along with other neighbors who looked out for him. The staff at the Everett Clinic, Dr. Loren Ihle and Dr. Robert Palmer, who always took extra time with dad. The Alpha Hospice care team who helped our dad fulfill his final wishes. The staff at the Buzz Inn in Snohomish, the staff at Collector's Choice restaurant and the Old Inn Tavern, staff and other customers, who always made him feel welcome.
And a big thanks to Jane and Jennifer for being by dad's side in his final weeks, allowing him to pass away at his home as he wished.
Donations in his name may be made to a local animal shelter.
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