Joseph Donald Ruhs

Joseph Donald “Don” Ruhs-originally from Louisville, Kentucky, passed away Monday, September 1st, 2025 near his son’s Bonaire, Georgia home. 18 months earlier, he was moved from Ft. Worth, Texas.

Don was born on September 6, 1935, to Clarence Ruhs and Helen (Meisner) Ruhs Lee. He grew up using his hands: manipulating tools, machining steel, playing acoustic guitar, voting, and leading. After receiving his GED and serving his country in the Marine Corps (stationed in Okinawa), he finished his machinist papers and married Dolores Nix on his birthday in 1958. Their marriage was blessed with three kids: Daniel, Brenda, Brian.

In 1977, Don received a call from a little company in East Texas called General Electric where he would train apprentices with calipers, micrometers and wisdom. When he wasn’t on the clock, you could find Don devouring great books, and diving into progressive thought: leading to his completion of his Associates of Arts degree, where he wrote essays that lingered with impact. Don also enjoyed attending Rangers games, finger-picking folk songs, leading humanist meetings and activist circles, as well as judging elections straight-backed.

Don lived a full and influential life. Preceding him in death were his precious wife Dolores, son Brian, and brothers Bill, Alvin, John, Gerald.

Don is survived by sister Barbara Ruhs Thompson; children Daniel, Brenda; grandkids Charles, Christopher, Logan, Lauren, Colby, and four great-grandkids-Hunter, Tillie, Corinne, Simeon (aged 8-12), asking the questions he'd answer with a grin. May we keep answering their curiosities!