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.

Thomas William Ruth