The Rev. Dr. Arthur L. Ruths (98) departed this life on March 2, 2021 and entered the unlimited presence of God. A resident of Homewood Retirement Village since August 2004, he was born August 22, 1922 in Mt. Carmel, PA, the son of the late John and Carrie (Raybuck) Ruths.

Besides his parents, his brother Walter and his sister Betty, Pastor Ruths was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Juanita, who died April 17, 2013.

Dr. Ruths graduated from Roosevelt High School, Kulpmont, PA, in 1941, Gettysburg College in 1945, and the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg in 1947. During his senior year at college, he served as President of the Student Senate, and was active in several organizations. Likewise, during his senior year at the seminary he was president of the student body and Co-chair of the Student-Faculty Relations Committee. While in seminary, he served as President of the North Atlantic Region and national vice-president of the Lutheran Student Association of America.

Upon graduation from the seminary May 16, 1947, he was ordained two days later into the Gospel Ministry by the Pittsburgh Synod of the then United Lutheran Church in America at Luther Memorial Church, Erie, PA.

On November 1, 1947 Arthur married his fiancée, Juanita I. Waters of Roselle, NJ, in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Elizabeth, NJ, Nita's home church. The union has been proudly blessed with and survived by four sons: Joel (Deborah), Hanover; Mark, Houston, TX; Paul (Ginny), Woodland Park, CO; and David (Colleen), Northumberland, PA.

Pastor Ruths is survived by ten grandchildren: Mrs. Janel (Ruths) Yost, Shepherdstown, WV; Dr. Derek Ruths, Montreal, Canada; Dr. Justin Ruths, Richardson, TX; Dr. Troy Ruths, Houston, TX; Captain Weston Ruths, Houston, TX; Natalie Ruths, Colorado Springs, CO, Logan Ruths, Woodland Park, CO; Jonathan Ruths, Springfield, PA, Abigail Ruths, Atlanta, GA, and Garrett Ruths, Lexington Park, MD. In addition, there are seven great-grandchildren.

Following three years (1947-1950) as Associate Pastor of Luther Memorial Church, Erie, he was called as pastor of First Lutheran Church, Ridgway, PA, (1950-1953). While there, he served as Dean of the Northeast Conference and as a member of the Executive Board of the Pittsburgh Synod.

In 1953 he was called by the National Lutheran Council to serve as the Lutheran Campus Pastor at Penn State University, State College (1953-1959). In addition to his pastoral ministry, he served as chairman of the University Inter-religious Council, Board Member of University Christian Association, and member of the Executive Committee of the national Lutheran campus staff.

From 1959 to 1967, Pastor Ruths served as Personnel Secretary of the Board of World Missions of the Lutheran Church in America, with responsibility for recruitment, screening and placement of missionaries around the world. To keep current on needs, he travelled extensively to South America, Africa, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan.

In addition, he was a member of the Missionary Personnel Committee of the National Council of Churches in America, and Chairman of its Committee on Laymen Overseas.

On April 1, 1967, Dr. Ruths began a twenty-year ministry as Senior Pastor of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Hanover. During his ministry, a five-year building/renovation program was accomplished, mission and benevolent outreach were substantially increased, the Bethel Bible Study led by trained lay teachers involved several hundred members, and a full-time staff music program was developed.

Besides being Dean of the Hanover District early in this ministry, he also served on the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, and as a member of the synod's Committee on World Hunger.

Other leadership involvements include: member and vice president of Board of Directors, Lutheran Social Services of South Central PA; Chairman of LSS Resource Development Committee; member and Chairman of synod's Committee on Mediation; one of 15 commissioners charged with reorganizing the Lutheran Church in America (1971-1973); member of the Board of Directors, Hanover Chapter of the American Red Cross; member and President of the Board of Directors of the Greater Hanover Housing Corp. on which he served 1967-2007; assisted United Way several years in its local campaign; member of Citizens for Decency Through Law, an attempt to curtail the spread of pornography and sexual obscenity.

In June 1970 Gettysburg College, in recognition of Pastor Ruths' varied, effective and world-wide ministry, bestowed on him the degree Doctor of Divinity. The Alumni Association of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg honored him in April 2007 as a Distinguished Alumnus.

Dr. Ruths retired from the active parish ministry on February 1, 1987. In retirement he was given the title of Pastor Emeritus at St. Matthew Lutheran Church and remained active in service in several congregations and for eighteen years chaired the Steering Committee of Lutheran Social Services, culminating in the Lutheran Retirement Village at Utz Terrace, Hanover.

A public Service of Celebration and Christian Burial will be conducted at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 30 West Chestnut Street, Hanover at 10 AM on Saturday, July 10, 2021 with Rev. Kathy Vitalis Hoffman and Rev. Eric P. Wogen officiating.  The family will receive friends and share memories on Friday, July 9, 2021 from 2 PM to 4 PM and 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at St. Matthew Lutheran Church.  Dr. Ruths will lie in state in the church parlor.  There will be no visitation or greeting of the family before the 10 AM service Saturday.  Final resting place will be in Rest Haven Cemetery, Hanover.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 30 West Chestnut St, Hanover, PA 17331.

To share memories of Rev. Dr. Arthur L. Ruths, please visit www.wetzelfuneralhome.com.