ERIE — Richard J. Ruhlman, 83, formerly of Meadville and a current resident of Westlake Woods, Erie, died there Monday, Oct. 26, 2009.
He was born in Warren Dec. 4, 1925, a son of the late Paul V. and Edith Johnson Ruhlman. He married Phyllis Stewart on June 21, 1952, and she preceded him in death Feb. 6, 1990.
Dick was a 1943 graduate of Warren High School and was a U.S. Navy veteran during World War II, serving from 1943 to 1946. He attended Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, N.J., and was a 1954 graduate of Allegheny College with a bachelor’s degree in English.
Dick served as alumni secretary at Allegheny College from 1956 to 1975. He became active in politics in the 1970s and early 1980s after chairing the Meadville Citizen’s Committee that helped save the Old Market House, and he was elected mayor of Meadville, serving from January 1974 to January 1980. He subsequently was elected Crawford County commissioner, serving from 1980 to 1983. In 1983 he was awarded an honorary degree in mechanical engineering from the Stevens Institute, citing his long service to education and the people of Meadville and Crawford County.
He was a two-year Boy Scout district executive in Erie County, was a former member of the Charles Stafford American Legion Post 111, Meadville, and was a member of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Dick was a member of Kingsley United Methodist Church, Erie, and former member and Sunday School teacher of Stone United Methodist Church, Meadville.
Survivors include three children, Amy Eisenberg and her husband, Richard, of Waterford, Richard Ray Ruhlman and his wife, Marcia Maziarz, of Washington, D.C., and Margaret (Meg) Mondo and her husband, Michael, of Meadville; three grandchildren, Ivan Eisenberg and his companion, Katie Laymon, of Asheville, N.C., and Claire and Anna Ruhlman of Washington, D.C.; a sister, Mary Foster and her husband, Case, of Ashville, N.Y.; and 17 nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, James Ruhlman.
Calling hours will be Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville, with an American Legion service at 7 p.m.
The funeral will be Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. John Spahr, pastor of Stone United Methodist Church, officiating.
Interment will be in Greendale Cemetery, Meadville, with military honors provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2006, Meadville.
Memorials may be made to the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, 1001 State St., Erie, Pa. 16501.
Condolences may be e-mailed to rwaid@windstream.net.
