John N. Ruth Jr. Ewan, N.J. John Ruth passed away on August 19, 2020 at age 71. A longtime resident of Ewan, NJ, John was the devoted husband of Donna Ruth for 50 years. Their loving children include Nate Ruth, Justine and Dominic Valentino, and grandchildren Dominic, Michael, and Vincent Valentino. John is predeceased by his parents John N. Ruth Sr. and Joyce M. Ruth. He is survived by siblings, Jean and Rudy Soderlund, Earl and Phyllis Ruth, and Kati Ruth and Ed Zucker, as well as nephews and nieces George, Lisa, Chris, Amy, Kyle, Nathan, and Naomi.
John was a dedicated mechanical engineer and a self-taught chef, as well as a contributing cook for Cathedral Kitchen in Camden, NJ for 17 years. He was a loving father and grandfather who taught his children and grandchildren about life, music, sports, cooking and had an encyclopedic knowledge of how to do and how to fix just about anything. John loved to work and was employed by various companies including Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, General Electric, George Young Company, and Gary Shulman’s Geothermal Power Company. He enjoyed skiing, restoring cars, and he always kept his door open to family and countless friends for a meal, a drink, and conversation. John became well known for throwing large parties, and he often planned the menus for weeks in advance. He was a member and an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Grenloch, where he sang in the choir, cooked for many church dinners, and enjoyed playing in the bell choir. John was a 43-year Mason at Laurel Lodge No. 237 F&AM, and he was viewed as a second father by many of his children’s friends.
During retirement John especially loved attending the sporting and school events of his grandsons, driving to Florida with Donna to spend time with the Hutton family and Garrigues family, preparing elaborate meals for his family on a nightly basis, doing crossword puzzles with Donna, watching sports, taking his grandsons shopping, listening to music, playing piano, and cooking food for an elderly neighbor.
A memorial service for immediate family will be held due to the current state restrictions. A Celebration of Life gathering for extended family and friends will be announced at some point in the future. Family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made in John's memory to the First Presbyterian Church of Grenloch, 500 Eastview Avenue, PO BOX 8, Grenloch, NJ 08032.
Fertig Funeral Home, LLC