Patrick O'neil Ruth Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Patrick O’Neil Ruth, 70, died on October 19, 2016, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in El Dorado, AR, on August 17, 1946, the son of Phyllis Mae (Orner) Luchsinger and the late Glen Ruth. Pat grew up in Arkansas, and moved during high school to graduate in 1964 graduate from Lee County High School. He went on to receive his Bachelor’s Degree from East Tennessee State University (ETSU), with a major in Mathematics and a minor in Economics. After graduation, he joined the United States Air Force, and proudly served his country during the Vietnam War. He was deployed for two tours, which took him to Thailand and Germany. Pat was an honored Captain when he was discharged in 1971. Upon his return to the states, Pat began his graduate studies at ETSU. It was here that he would met his future bride, Radchanee “Ann” Karu-Ampho. The couple were married twice, once in an “American” ceremony on April 1, 1975, in Greensville, SC and the second was a full traditional Buddhist wedding on August 21, 1975 in Thailand, where Ann was born and raised. Ann's host family, the late Julian and Altajane Caudill, hosted a reception afterwards in Elizabethton, TN. The couple started their married life while Pat was working on his Doctorate at the University of South Carolina. They soon moved to the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, because of a job opportunity from the University of Chicago as an Graduate School programmer that Pat could not refuse. After a year in the city, the pair moved to the suburb of Glen Ellyn, where they raised their three children. A hard worker, Pat often worked more than one job at a time, to make sure that his family was well provided for. He worked the longest for Weiler Engineering Inc and Mercury Metal Products, before retiring in 2008. Pat was a family man, and nothing made him more proud then his children. He participated in their lives, and took an active role in all of their interests. Whether it was keeping time at swim meets, being a cheer leader in the stands at sporting events, or getting caught up with the latest video game; if his children were involved, so was he. Pat completed his flying license in 1997, which his daughter, Alicia, signed off on as a Certified Flight Instructor. He loved being up in the air, and owned a Piper Cherokee 140, with his best friend Vince Gazarkiewicz. Pat was a member of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and he had planned on finishing building his own plane. He had, however, built many computers, including the hardware and the software, in order to make sure that they were always up to date for each family member's interests. His last years were spent in Jonesville, where he could be close to his extended family and help take care of his mother, Phyllis. Pat will be missed for his good humor, weak puns, and his personal nicknames for those who were close to him. In addition to his mother, Pat is survived by his devoted wife of 41 years, Radchanee; children, Alicia Mae Edmondson and husband Chris of Centennial, CO; Malee Ann Farmer and husband Blake of Naperville, IL, and Nathan Eugene Ruth of Glen Ellyn, IL; grandchildren, Chloe O’Neal and Dylan Christopher Edmondson, and Adelia Marie and Austin Patrick Farmer; sisters, Rebecca “Becky” Bryant of Gainesville, FL, Mary Poe, and Glenda Greene both of Pennington Gap, VA; and many nieces and nephews. All services are private for the family.

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Patrick O'neil Ruth

August 17, 1946 - October 19, 2016

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Patrick O'neil Ruth

August 17, 1946 - October 19, 2016

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