Robert F. Ruddy Jr.

1950 - 2022

Robert F. Ruddy Jr., 71, of Dunmore, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by love on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, only 100 days after being diagnosed with cancer. He was born in Scranton on April 11, 1950, to the late Robert and Betty Jenkins Ruddy of Scranton.

He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Lynn, who Bob married in 1974. She brought him to Dunmore and that is where he lived for the next 47 years. He was known as the Ruddy that married a Ruddy. He made many friends and began to love the people of Dunmore, although North Scranton, where he grew up, always had his heart.

Bob graduated from Scranton Tech in 1968. He was enlisted in the United States Navy from 1968-1972 and was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War, where he was awarded numerous citations and medals. He served in the Vietnam War on the USS St. Francis River and the USS JFK air craft carrier as a radar specialist. After his enlistment he attended and graduated from the University of Scranton. Bob's career began in 1972 at Tobyhanna Army Depot and in 1974 he transferred to the U.S. Postal Service beginning as a mail carrier and ending his career after 38 years as a postmaster.

He could be found every Friday night with his friend/brother-in-law, Wally Evans, at the Dunmore Bucks football games filming for Coach Henzes, for more than 30 years. He spent countless hours compiling footage for the highlight tapes, a job he loved. He was affiliated with the Friends of the Bucks for more than 30 years. He was also involved with the Dunmore Oilers football program, where he had coached for a number of years.

He was a member of the American Legion and a lifetime member of VFW Post 25 Scranton.

His greatest accomplishment besides his children was the house he built with his wife and children at Lake Sheridan. It was a labor of love, where many good moments were lived, good memories made and good parties were had.

Bob was a master carpenter, electrician, plumber, "a jack of all trades." He constantly worked on his children's houses and his apartments with his wife by his side. His children called him often when they had a problem and they knew they could always count on their Dad. He would always say that on his tombstone he wanted "What will they all do now?' And we now wonder, "What will we all do now?"

Bob had four children that he loved dearly, Kerri Lynn Ruddy Archer (husband, Vinnie), Bobby, Brian (wife, Kasie), Billy (wife, Molly). His children blessed him with 10 grandchildren, Vivienne, Ivy, James, Sylvia Archer, Liam, Claire, Chloe, Maggie, Patrick Ruddy and Liam Harrington, all of Dunmore; and two stepgrandchildren, Kyle and Haley Archer, Scranton. He is also survived by a sister, Sharon Beckage (husband, Frank), Melbourne, Fla.; a brother, Stephen, Scranton; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was also blessed to have the Ruddy family (the in-laws) of Dunmore, who were always there with love and support.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Patty Ruddy Roman and Betty Ruddy Reindenbach; brother, Paul; niece, Megan Ruddy; and nephew, Bobby Roman.

The funeral will be Friday from the Carlucci-Golden-DeSantis Funeral Home Inc., 318 E. Drinker St. in Dunmore, with Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church in Dunmore. Interment will take place in Dunmore Cemetery.

Friends may call Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. To send the family an online condolence, visit www.DunmoreFuneralHome.com.