Joseph “Jake” Charles Ruhl, 93, of Guthrie, OK was born September 22, 1929 in Cashion, OK to Joe and Annabelle (Moore) Ruhl. He died on Friday, September 23, 2022.
Jake graduated from Cashion High School with the class of 1947. He married Barbara Griffin on March 12, 1951 in Navina, OK and they celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary in 2022.
Jake joined the Oklahoma National Guard in Kingfisher while in high school and was forever proud to have been a part of Company M, 179th Infantry, 45th Division. The Division was mobilized in September 1950 to train at Ft. Polk, LA and then deployed to Korea in 1951. Upon returning home, he remained active in the National Guard being honorably discharged and retired in 1989 as a Colonel.
Together with his wife, Jake owned and operated Ruhl Distributing Inc. in Guthrie and surrounding areas for 47 years before retiring in 2008.
He is a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post 58 and Past Commander, VFW Post 4578 and past Commander and 45th Division 179th Infantry Regiment Association. Jake loved to hunt, especially the annual pheasant trips to South Dakota for many years. Jake and Barbara enjoyed traveling, revisiting Korea twice, Europe, England, The Islands and many states in the U.S.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Gene Ruhl; sisters, Betty Frazier and Dorothy Burns; grandson, Jason Ruhl; and son-in-law, Gregg Ramsey.
Jake is survived by his wife of 71 years, Barbara; son, Joe Ruhl, Jr. and wife, Jan of Guthrie; daughters, Cheryll Lingerfelt and husband, Robert of Guthrie and Tamera Ramsey of Oklahoma City. Jake also leaves behind several grandchildren: Nichole Sterkel and husband, Brian, Adam Schuster, Jennifer Finch, Amanda Shields and husband, Parker, Steven Kriz and wife, Ashleigh, Lauren Blake, and Lindsey Caldwell. He is also survived by many great-grandchildren: Natalie Caldwell, Anna and Caroline Sterkel, Nora and Brody Finch, Sophia Schuster, Hannah, Jacob, and Sarah Shields, Joie and Camren Blake as well as his brother, Johnnie Ruhl of Kingfisher, OK.
A Rosary will be held at 7:00 P.M., Monday, September 26, 2022 at Smith-Gallo Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M., Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at St. Mary Catholic Church with interment to follow at Summit View Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, Guthrie.
Visitation will be held at Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, Monday from 2:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to St. Mary Catholic Church, 411 North Elm St., Guthrie, OK 73044 or to the charity of your choice.
The family wishes to thank Companion Hospice, especially Amy and Amber and his caregivers, Bill Wilson and Angela Collier for their compassionate care.
Friends may sign the online guestbook at www. smithgallo.com.