Robert Dean Ruth, 84, died Saturday, July 30, 2011 at Tri-County Manor in Horton, Kansas.

Bob was born June 12, 1927 in Horton and raised in Everest, Kansas, the son of Roy and Emma (Olsen) Ruth. He graduated from Everest High School and married Kathleen (Schuetz) Ruth in 1950. He was an officer at the Union State Bank in Everest, later he worked as a security guard, and as a guard at the Lansing Penitentiary and the state prison in Jefferson City, Missouri. He also owned an art supply store, and worked in landscaping while living in the Ozarks.

Bob was a veteran of WW II, and was very proud of all veterans, including those from his family who served their country in a branch of the military. He was a member of the Peterson-Bichelmeir-Larson American Legion Post 288.

Bob loved the outdoors, traveling, reading and history. One very memorable trip was in 1967 when he went to Ecuador to mine for gold. The combination of traveling and the outdoors lured Bob and Kathleen to find homes in the Lake of the Ozarks and Colorado after their retirement. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, rock collecting and using his metal detector. Bob and Kay eventually returned to and made their home in Horton, Kansas where he found delight in visiting with anyone on anything from world politics to the local coffee shop gossip.

Bob had an uncanny connection with dogs. Especially for those that had been abandoned or deserted. Once they adopted each other the dogs would live out the rest of their years knowing true companionship.

Bob leaves his wife of 61 years, Kathleen Ruth; his daughter, Wanda (Steve )Stoltenberg, Horton, Kansas; his son, Dan (Janice) Ruth, Pineville, Missouri; grandchildren, Jake Durando (Misty), San Diego, California; Courtney (Andrew) Warner, Overland Park, Kansas; Nick Ruth, Merriam, Kansas and Sara (Jeremy) Leach, Bentonville, Arkansas; and one great-grandchild, Isabel Ruth Warner; his sister, Betty Caton, Mission, Kansas; and nephews, Joe and Barry Commins and their families of Kansas City, Kansas. Bob is also survived by Donna and Allen Hallauer of Horton; Bob and Sue Schuetz of Kingman, Arizona, and niece, Beth and John Ewing of WPAFB, Dayton, Ohio.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Dishon Maple-Chaney Mortuary of Horton, Kansas. Private family graveside services will be held on August 4, 2011 at the Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas.

The family would like to thank NEK Multi-County Hospice for their care and support and request that memorial contributions be made to the Northeast Kansas Multi-County Hospice of Hiawatha,Kansas or to the Tn-County Manor of Horton, Kansas. Memorials may be sent in care of the funeral home: Dishon Maple-Chaney Mortuary, 909 Central Avenue, Horton, Kansas 66439.
A special message may be sent to the family at www.dishon-maple-chaney.com