Gary R. Ruden, 74, of Philipsburg died Saturday, July 20, 2013 at his residence.
He was the son of the late Andrew R. and Verna M. (Mills) Ruden, born Jan. 26, 1939 in West Decatur. On Sept. 3, 1966 at the First Church of Christ in Philipsburg, he married the love of his life, the former Carol L. Shoff, who survives him at home.
He was a Protestant by faith.
Mr. Ruden served in the U.S. Navy from June of 1956 until his discharge in December of 1959. His last duty assignment was a nine-month tour of duty in the Mediterranean aboard the U.S.S. Essex.
He was very active in his community for years, serving on the board of directors of the Moshannon Valley YMCA. He was a member of the Philipsburg Rotary Club and Moshannon Valley Industrial Development Authority. He was an avid reader and loved fishing, hunting and traveling.
He was employed at Warner-Lambert Co., Lititz, Pennsylvania as an accountant and later as a purchasing agent. In 1972 he returned to Philipsburg and joined the management team at Charles Navasky & Company until his retirement in 2004.
Mr. Ruden was a 1956 graduate of the Philipsburg High School and a 1962 graduate of the Altoona School of Commerce.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by: a brother-in-law, Ed Navasky; a special aunt and uncle, Arthur and Ruth Rydberg, and his former son-in-law, Dr. Michael A. Capatch.
He is survived by his daughter, Kelly R. Ruden of Osceola Mills and his grandchildren, whom he dearly loved, Marena B. Capatch and Chase A. Capatch, both of Osceola Mills.
Also surviving is a sister, Dona R. Navasky and her children, Charles “Chuck” Navasky and his wife, Jaye; Leslie Gonder and her husband, Greg; and Ruthi Taylor and her husband, Scott, all of Philipsburg; and great-nieces and great-nephews, Carly, Cole, Jakob, Mia, Andrew and Max; and great-great-nephews Ryann and Liam.
He is also survived by a brother-in-law, Bob Shoff and his wife, Louise, their daughter, Allison and grandson, Evan, all of Arizona; a brother-in-law, Wesley Shoff and his wife, Bethany of Alabama, their sons, Nate of Alabama and Dr. Hugh Shoff and his wife, Lisa of Kentucky.
At Mr. Ruden’s request, there will be no public visitation. A memorial service will be held on a future date to be announced. Burial will be at the Philipsburg Cemetery in Philipsburg.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, Philipsburg.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Clearfield Hospital Hospice, P.O. Box 992, Clearfield, PA 16830 “or” to Philipsburg Veteran’s Memorial, P.O. Box 1, Philipsburg, PA 16866 “or” Clearfield County SPCA, 275 21st St., Clearfield, PA 16830.
Friends may sign the guestbook at: beezerheathfh.com.