Thomas Ruthman Obituary, Death – We are passing along the news of the demise of Thomas R. Ruthman, who served as President of the Ruthman Companies and Owner of the company.
At the age of 16, Mr. Ruthman joined the family firm, and he worked in the pump industry for the entirety of his career. After gaining an in-depth understanding of the company’s operations, he succeeded his father, Alois Ruthman, as CEO of the corporation and carried on the heritage of innovation that his father had established. It was under his direction that the company expanded from its first manufacturing operation, Gusher Pumps, into a multi-national enterprise that included manufacturing, service, and distribution brands.
In addition, Mr. Ruthman was responsible for the establishment and management of the Ruthman Family Farms. The farm, which is situated in the northwest corner of Ohio, cultivates approximately 10,000 acres worth of maize, soybeans, and wheat. Over the past few years, he has broadened the scope of the farm’s operations to include cellular, wind, and solar energy, always with an eye toward emerging technologies. Mr. Ruthman was not just an astute businessman but also an active and generous benefactor to the community. He was a substantial benefactor to a vast number of local organizations that promoted the arts, education, and human services.
Mr. Ruthman took a step back from the day-to-day operations of the business in recent years so that he could spend more time with his cherished wife of 45 years, Audrey, as well as his three daughters and 11 grandchildren. He continued to serve on the board of directors of Ruthman Companies and was still present at the business offices on a near-daily basis.
Mr. Ruthman used the time he had during his semi-retirement to pursue his hobbies, which included collecting stamps, building model trains, and tracking the trading of securities. In addition to that, he made use of his free time to continue to be of service to the community by holding board positions with local charitable organizations.
As someone who has known Bill for the past 48 years, I can attest to the fact that he was deeply committed to assisting other people in discovering a method of living that is practical.
Everyone in our family business, where many of us have worked side by side with him for decades, will miss him terribly. His legacy will be carried on by his son, Thomas G. Ruthman, who will run the Ruthman Companies.
