Ruth, Arthur David (1881-1967)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1967 Jun 15 p. 3

Birth date: 1881 Oct 1

text of obituary:

Reedley Businessman Dies at Age 85

Reedley, Calif. — Arthur D. Ruth, one of the founders of the Reedley Lumber Co., died June 6 at a Fresno hospital after a brief illness.

Ruth came here from Illinois in 1915. He was president of the lumber firm at the time of his death. He was long active in the First Mennonite Church, where the funeral was held June 9.

Survivors include his widow, Lelia, and a daughter, Claire Ann of Reedley, and one sister, Mrs. Edward A. Dettweiler, also of Reedley.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1967 Jul 20 p. 8

text of obituary:

ARTHUR DAVID RUTH

Arthur David Ruth, son of John A. Ruth and Clara Eymann Ruth, was born in Summerfield, Ill. on Oct. 1, 1881. Later he moved with his parents to Kansas where they lived in several locations in the Halstead and Hesston area.

As a young man, Arthur accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior and was baptized by the Rev. S. S. Baumgartner. He became a member of the Garden Township Mennonite Church of Rural Hesston.

In 1915 the Ruth family moved to California where they bought several fruit ranches over a period of time in the Reedley area which Arthur farmed. He retired from active farming in 1941 after a period of illness. He helped establish the Reedley Lumber Co. in 1921 and was currently its president.

Arthur was married to Lelia Galle in 1944.

He maintained a great interest in the church, serving as church treasurer and an usher for many years, and contributing much effort to various projects.

Two days after returning from an enjoyable trip to Kansas he was hospitalized for what appeared to be a minor heart irregularity. He was responding well to treatment and was to be dismissed shortly, but early on the morning of June 6, 1967 he passed away quietly in his sleep.

He will be fondly remembered by the many people whom he cheerfully helped in so many ways. Those who will especially hold him in affectionate remembrance are his wife, Lelia, his daughter, Clare Ann, his sister Stella — Mrs. E. A. Dettweiler, 17 nieces and nephews, a number of grandnieces and nephews, seven cousins, and many friends.

Although they shall miss him, they are comforted by the promise that all who believe that Jesus died and rose again shall live with Him eternally and thus have the assurance of being reunited with their loved ones.

The Mennonite obituary: 1967 Jun 27 p. 425