John Homer Ruth, Jr.

John Homer Ruth, Jr., 88, a native of Scottdale, Pennsylvania, passed away on June 25, 2024, in Tempe, Arizona, after a brief illness.

John was born to John Homer and Ruby Bailey Ruth and was the beloved husband of Martha Lee Rhodes, also of Scottdale, for 28 years.

After graduating from Scottdale High School in 1954, John attended Carnegie Mellon University for one year before his appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point changed the trajectory of his life.

A proud graduate of the Class of 1959, John was known for his discipline, organizational skills, and precision, qualities that fueled his successful career as an international business executive at John Deere and Massey Ferguson. Following his three-year Army service, John and Martha Lee moved to South America, marking the beginning of their international adventures spanning nearly three decades in Columbia, Peru, Thailand, England, Sweden, Germany, and Canada.

John took great pride in his three children-Melissa Ruth (Georgie Rodriguez), Amy Ruth Allen (Leigh Allen) and John Homer Ruth III. His influence as a loving and progressive father is evident in the enduring passions he cultivated in them. Guiding them through a world of art, music, culture and new horizons, John inspired his children to embrace new experiences and understand the broader world, just as he did.

He had an eclectic taste in music and played the organ at home, favoring lively tunes that jolted the household awake early in the mornings. During high school, John played the trumpet and was known for playing Taps at veterans' funerals, a duty he fulfilled with honor. He cherished his time with the Blue Dots, a dance band he co-founded, which won a notable Lions Club amateur contest in Scottdale in 1953.

Throughout his life, John remained active in racquet sports, from squash to racquetball to pickleball. He often bested his younger pickleball opponents well into his eighties-a source of great satisfaction for him.

An avid reader of history, particularly World War II's Pacific Theater, John also enjoyed poetry, frequently delivering dramatic readings from his favorite poets, including Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Service, and Alfred Noyes.

In later years, John settled in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he held executive positions at several Iowa corporations.

Following retirement, he established a successful consulting business and served on several local boards. He enjoyed the company of friends and family, University of Iowa basketball and, of course, the annual Army-Navy football game.

John was preceded in death by his first wife Martha Lee Rhodes; his son John Homer Ruth III; and his sisters Emily Ruth Pfaadt and Mary Ellen Ruth Jones. In addition to his daughters and their husbands, John is survived by his brother James Ruth and sister-in-law Kathy Ruth; nieces Meg Argo, Cathy Jones Keeley and Beth Westra; and his nephews Eric Pfaadt and Michael Ruth. He is also survived by his second wife, Judy, and her children and grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be held in Scottdale by John's daughters to celebrate his life with friends and the Ruth family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the West Point Association of Graduates (westpointaog.org) in John's honor.