Henry L. Ruth

1905 - 2006

• Born	7 Jan 1905	New Britain Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
  Gender	Male
  Died	26 Feb 2006	Souderton Mennonite Homes, Souderton, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
  Buried	Finland Mennonite Cemetery, Pennsburg, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
  Notes	HENRY RUTH Henry L. Ruth, a resident of the Souderton Mennonite Homes, died at the home of John and Roma Ruth in Lower Salford Twp., Feb. 26, 2006. In the previous month, his family had celebrated his 101st birthday at his Souderton residence. Born Jan. 7, 1905 on a farm on New Galena Road in New Britain Twp., Henry was the fifth of seven children of Allen R. and Sallie (Landis) Ruth. After attending the neighboring former Fairview Elementary School and two years at high schools in Newville and Chalfont, he worked at home and on the farms of Horace Ruth in New Britain, Menno Souder of near Elroy, and his older brother, Ervin Ruth, of near Hatfield. He married Susan A. Landis of Lower Salford, March 20, 1929, and moved to her parents farm along the Branch Creek, where he was a hired man until 1941. He then farmed for himself until the mid 1970s, renting the farm from his brother-in-law, Abram A. Landis. The Ruths had five children; John, Lois, Eunice, Martyne and Carolyn. In 1931, they were founding members of the Finland Mennonite congregation, where Henry served as Sunday school secretary and teacher and retained lifelong membership. As a young farmer, Henry cultivated interests in photography and astronomy, developing his own photographs and building his own six-inch reflecting telescope. After concluding dairying, he raised beef cattle and worked as an orderly at Grand View Hospital for 14 years. In 1987 the Ruths moved to the Souderton Mennonite Homes, where they celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary, March 29, 2004. Susan died Feb. 11, 2005, at the age of 95. Both husband and wife lived longer than any of their parents or siblings. Surviving are son, John L. Ruth and his wife, Roma, of Lower Salford; daughter, Lois Kennel and her husband, Dr. Arthur J., of Rochester, MN; son-in-law, Donald C. Mast and his wife, Erma, of Woodstock, IL, daughter, Martyne Wetzel and her husband, Conrad L., of Champaign, IL; daughter, Carolyn Ruth of Rancho Cucamonga, CA; and foster son, Siegfried Rebnegger and his wife, Elsie, of Souderton. Also surviving are 14 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Eunice Mast, formerly of Woodstock. Memorial services are scheduled for Thursday, March 2 in the chapel of the Souderton Mennonite Homes. Friends may greet the family from 9:30 to 10:45 AM, with services following at 11 AM. Interment will follow in the cemetery of Finland Mennonite Church in Pennsburg. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Henry L. Ruth may be sent to the Hospice Program, Grand View Hospital, Sellersville, PA 18960. Arrangements are by the Anders-Detweiler Funeral Home in Souderton. Lansdale Reporter
  Person ID	I2805	ShowalterFunk
  Last Modified	24 Feb 2009

  
  

  Family	Susan A. Landis,   b. 5 Jun 1909, Lower Salford Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania ,   d. 11 Feb 2005, Souderton Mennonite Homes, Souderton, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
  Married	29 Mar 1929
  Children	1. Eunice Ruth,   b. 15 Aug 1933, Lower Salford Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania ,   d. 14 Jan 1994, San Diego, California
  Family ID	F1917	Group Sheet