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| Please honor Craig's memory by donating to the Craig Ruth Memorial Scholarship
| A 50 year resident of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and living in Rolling Hills, California, Clarence (Craig) M. Ruth, Jr. passed away peacefully from a massive brain hemorrhage on Friday, June 19, 2009, at Torrance Memorial Hospital with his family at his side. He was a month short of his 79th birthday.
Craig was born on July 18, 1930, in Scranton, Pennsylvania to Clarence & Kathryn Ruth. He had one brother, Harry and a sister Wanda. He attended Solvay High School in Syracuse, NY, where he lettered in baseball and basketball. (His mother would not let him play football in High School.) He was Captain of the undefeated varsity basketball team that led to a New York State Championship. He then attended Muskingham College in Ohio and played all three sports, football, basketball & baseball during his four years at Muskingham. The football team went undefeated for two years and won the conference championship! He was recognized as the “Outstanding Athlete of the Year” when he averaged 10+ yards per carry in football. Craig was passionate about music and played the trumpet through High School & College. He had his own Big Band Group that played at all the college dance. After college, he joined the Marine Corps. He retied as a Captain although his heart never left the Corps. Following the Marine Corps, he went to Northwestern University to work closely with Ara Parseghian. He met his bride, Marion Nelson from Rye, New York at Northwestern University. They were later married on April 19, 1958.
Craig was closely involved with the Marine Corp Scholarship Foundation which provides college financing for children of Marines that have been killed in combat. One of his proudest moments came in 1998 when he was honored by the Commandant with the Semper Fidelis award for his outstanding commitment to the Marine Corps.
Growing up Craig played on a number sports teams along with his older brother, who was four years ahead of him in school. So evolved the nickname of “Shorty” which is still used today by friends and family.
From the mid-seventies he was a partner at Tooley & Company in Los Angeles. The firm specialized in commercial real estate development, property management & leasing with projects in the Western States. He retired three years after the company was sold in 1998 to Trammell Crow Company an international real estate firm headquartered in Dallas, TX. (It is now CB Richard Ellis.)
Some of his favorite memories include family vacations in Sun Valley, ID, Palm Desert and Hawaii. He was an avid sports fan and attended any game, anytime. In later years he loved attending his grandchildren’s soccer, tennis and baseball games. You could always count on Shorty for an encouraging word and a big smile! He enjoyed his children and grandchildren, and gave them the wonderful gift of his confidence, support and wise counsel.
Craig was a loved as a husband, father, friend, mentor, colleague and coach. He is survived by Marion, his wife of over 51 years, their children, Bob, Lee, Bill, Ann and Bill’s wife Deena. In addition he will be missed by his 5 cherished grandchildren, Austin, Chase, Annie, Tommy, Mallory Ruth and step-grandchildren Heather & Samantha Henderson.
The Memorial Service for Craig will be a celebration of his life on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 11:00AM in the Rolling Hills Covenant Church, 2222 Palos Verdes Drive North, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274-4220, (310) 519-9406
In lieu of flowers or gifts the family is requesting that donations be made to The Craig Ruth Memorial Scholarship fund through the Marine Corp Scholarship Foundation.
Semper Fi!
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