Lester R. Ruth

Lester R. Ruth, Jr., was born on August 5, 1924, in Alliance, Ohio, the son of Lester R. Ruth, Sr., and Lola Buchanan Ruth. He passed away on May 24, 2018 in Center Hill, Florida. He attended elementary and secondary schools in Alliance and in Atlanta and Cordele, Georgia, his family having moved South in 1934. He served in U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII from 1943 to 1946. During this time he spent 18 months overseas in India. Prior to entering the Army he had briefly attended Georgia Tech. After the war he continued his education, at Emory University, receiving a B.A. in 1949 and an M.A. in 1950. In 1948 he married Teresa Miller, and in 1950 their first child was born, a daughter, Lola (now Lola Bierlair). Their second daughter, Teresa Renee (Mrs. Jerry Carter), was born in 1953. After receiving his M.A., Dr. Ruth taught languages at Truett-McConnell Junior College, Cleveland, Georgia, for one year. He and his family then moved to Augusta, Georgia, where he was in the restaurant business for about five years. In 1956 he returned to education as an English instructor in high schools in Jackson, South Carolina, and Augusta. From 1960 to 1962 he taught French at Newberry College in Newberry, South Carolina. When Lake-Sumter Junior College opened in 1962, Dr. Ruth and his family moved to Leesburg, where he assumed the position of language instructor. During his 27 years at the college he held several other positions and performed a number of other duties. He served as coordinator of instructional media (A.V.) and editor of two of the self-studies required for accreditation. In the early seventies he assumed duties related to institutional research , planning and development, including federal and state reporting, institutional evaluation, development of grant applications, coordination of staff and program development, and the development of long-range plans for physical facilities and for vocational education. He coordinated the design and construction of the Multi-Purpose Building. He served as the college's representative to the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. He retired from Lake-Sumter Community College as the Director of Planning and Development. In 1965 Dr. Ruth and his wife had their third child, a son, Charles (Chuck). Their second son, Douglas (Richy), was born in 1972 at what is now LRMC. In the 70's Dr. Ruth returned to college and received his Ed.S. degree from the University of Florida in 1976 and his Ed.D. from Florida in 1979. He was a member of Morrison United Methodist Church, Lake Square Kiwanis Club, of which he was president (1987), and the Florida Association of Community Colleges. He served as President of the Executive Club, 1993-1994. He was inducted into the Lake-Sumter State College Hall of Fame in 2014.. Dr. Ruth is survived by his sister, Cynthia Harris, 4 children, 11 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Terri. He will be remembered as a quiet man who was patient, kind and fun-loving. He loved and was loved dearly by his family and friends. Dr. Ruth believed that everyone should have the opportunity to reach their dreams and he strove to make this possible for his family and the students of Lake-Sumter. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, May 31st from 10 AM to 11 AM with a service at 11 AM. Dr. Ruth will be buried at Florida National Cemetery on Thursday, May 31st at 1 PM with military honors. Arrangements entrusted to Beyers Funeral Home & Crematory, Leesburg, Florida (352) 787-4343

Lester R. Ruth

August 5, 1924 - May 24, 2018