James A. Ruth

Dr. James A. Ruth Sr., a retired West Reading dentist, died Nov. 9 at 4:30 p.m. in Reading Hospital.

Ruth, 84, a resident of the Highlands at Wyomissing, formerly of Wyomissing, was the husband of Betty (Freed) Ruth.

He operated a dental practice in West Reading for 50 years until his retirement.

Born in Wyomissing, he was a son of the late Calvin and Ellen (Haag) Ruth.

Ruth was a 1939 graduate of Wyomissing High School and a 1945 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Dental School, Philadelphia. He also attended Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster.

He was a past president of the Berks County Dental Society and the Torch Club of Reading.

Ruth was a past president and charter member of the West Reading-Wyomissing Rotary Club.

He was a 32nd degree mason of Lodge 62, F&AM, Reading.

Ruth was a Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

He was a member of the Bausman Memorial United Church of Christ, Wyomissing, where he was a past president of the consistory and Men's League.

Ruth sang with the Reading Choral Society and Reading Madrichor and also sang with the Herman Miller Sylvanians.

He was a member of the Wyomissing Crime Watch and served with FISH of Berks County.

Ruth is also survived by a daughter, Brenda (Ruth) LeVan, Sinking Spring; and a son, James A. Jr., New Milford, Conn.

Other survivors include a sister, Anna (Ruth) Salzman, Catonsville, Md.

There are also five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be Nov. 19 at 11 a.m. in the Bausman UCC. Burial will be private in Hain's Church Cemetery, Lower Heidelberg Township.Contributions may be made to Bausman Memorial United Church of Christ,1064 Penn Ave., Wyomissing, PA 19610. Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home Inc., West Reading, is in charge of arrangements.

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