Thomas William Ruth
February 14, 1947 - September 14, 2026
Obituary
Thomas William Ruth
Feb 14, 1947 – Sept 14, 2026
Thomas William Ruth, 79, of Aberdeen, MD, passed away peacefully on September 14, 2026,
after a courageous 36-year battle with cancer.
Born on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1947, in Baltimore, MD, Tom was the son of the late
Melvin and Dorothy Ruth. A dedicated educator, with a distinguished federal career, he spent 10
years sharing his love of mathematics as a teacher at Aberdeen High School. Following his
teaching career, he served as a civilian with the U.S. Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity
(AMSAA) at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland, devoting 37 years of distinguished
service before retiring. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Infantry community,
and the Army, Tom was honored with the prestigious Order of Saint Maurice in 2012.
Beyond his professional life, Tom had a deeply inquisitive mind and a passion for lifelong
learning. An avid researcher, with a penchant for online debates, he spent countless, rewarding
hours uncovering his family's history through extensive genealogy work. His primary passion,
however, was Civil War history. Tom was an absolute expert on the subject—and Gettysburg in
particular—he loved nothing more than leading unforgettable, detailed tours across the
battlefields for visiting friends and family.
Above all else, Tom treasured the time he spent surrounded by those he loved. Tom was a
devoted Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Brother, and Uncle. He is survived by
his beloved wife of 57 years, Kathy (Wroten) Ruth; his daughter, Kim Deal (Brian); his son,
Mike Ruth (Stacy); his daughter, Katie McKee (Jake); his seven grandchildren, Brittany
Thompson (Adam), Abby Proctor (Cody), Connor, Landon, Tyler, Sawyer, and Carson; and his
four great-grandchildren, Ella, Hunner, Mason, and Brayden. He is also survived by his sister,
Chris Lorber (Tony), and his brothers, John Ruth and Jim Ruth (Kathie), and many nieces and
nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Dorothy Ruth, as well as his brothers, Ray
and Matt Ruth.
Service Details
Celebration of Life: Saturday, November 7 from 12 pm to 3 pm at Ripken Stadium.
In Lieu of Flowers: Memorial donations may be made in Tom’s memory to the Bob
Hooper Hospice House (Forest Hill, MD) or the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel
Comprehensive Cancer Center.