Charlottesville, Virginia
Henry aka Heinz Karl Willie Ruhe
Our dear father and grandfather, "Opa" to all of us, passed away on Monday, May 25, 2009.
Opa was born on March 3, 1926, in Braunschweig, Germany, where he was educated until he had to join the German army at the ripe old age of 16.
His army life led him to Russia as well as to the Allied invasion in Normandy, France. There he was captured near St. Lo and transferred ultimately to the United States. He spent his time in Idaho and California, where he was employed in the agricultural area, harvesting cotton, potatoes, and citrus fruits. He became friends with several American civilians and was so impressed with them as well as life in the United States, in general, that he decided to return to this country at the earliest possible time.
He was repatriated in England where he spent two years as a POW. He emigrated to the United States in 1953 where he lived for eight years in New York working for the Hanover Bank. In 1971, he relocated to Vermont to join a large life insurance company as a financial manager. Health reasons forced an early retirement in 1981, and he and his wife, Charlee, moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, where he spent several years as a sales associate with Real Estate III.
Henry joins his loving wife, Charlee, in heaven and leaves behind his stepdaughter Colleen White and her husband, Mark, and daughter, Delaney, residing in Charlottesville, Virginia; stepson, Sean Baird and his wife Shannon, and sons, Connor and Ryan and daughter, Taylor, residing in Columbia, South Carolina. He also leaves behind his stepdaughter, Gyan Baird residing in Vermont and her son, Evan Litwin, residing in Boston, Massachusetts.
At his request, Opa will be cremated and his ashes interred with those of his wife in Dixon, Illinois.
The family will be hosting a celebration of Henry's life from 4:30 until 6 p.m. Sunday, June 7, 2009, for his close friends and family.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Hospice of the Piedmont in his memory for the loving care they provided his wife, Charlee Ruhe, and the family.
This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.
Happy father's day, my Opa. I am so grateful and happy to have had you in my life. You have been the only real father I have ever known. I am happy that I was able to talk with you last father's day and tell you how much I love you. I think you know, now, the truth of my words. I miss you, Opa, but I am happy that you are reconnected with Oma now. That your heart is singing. With love, Gyan
June 20, 2009
I miss your happy, loving spirit. It's hard to think I won't see anymore e-mail jokes from you... Thanks for being the best Opa I could have asked for... I love you and will always cherish the many memories you've left me with.
Evan
June 10, 2009
I lived across from Henry until I moved to NC. He was a gentle and kind man who loved to tease me. He is now with his beloved Charlee. Judy brandt
June 05, 2009
We will miss Heinz and the fun times he provided for all of us that were fortunate enough to be close to him.
Brian and Liz Wilcox
June 05, 2009
