Joseph B. Ruth,

ASHBURNHAM - Joseph B. Ruth, Jr., 86 of 42 Corey Hill Road, Ashburnham, died Saturday, September 4, 2010 in the Wachusett Manor Nursing Home, Gardner. He was born in Gloucester, on October 22, 1923, the son of the late Joseph B. and the late Helen (Norwood) Ruth. He enlisted into the United States Marines in October, 1941. While qualifying at Parris Island's rifle range, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. During WWII, one of his assignments was guarding the office of the Secretary of the Navy, he served at the battle of Okinawa, and later earned the distinction of becoming a "China Marine" after serving in 1946 in Tientain, China. A number of additional military assignments he competed included; Deputy Director of Public Affairs of the Marine Corps, Marine Corps Historian, and he authored the "History of the 25th Marines." Mr. Ruth retired from the United States Marines Corps in 1983 as a Colonel, after forty-two years of active and reserve service. Mr. Ruth earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of South Carolina and his MBA from Boston College. He was a Professor in the Business Division at Mount Wachusett Community College for 29 years and was Chairman of the Division for many of those years. He was a resident of Ashburnham for 44 years after moving his family from Gloucester. He was a communicant of St. Denis Church, a member of the Ashburnham American Legion, the Turnpike Rod & Gun Club, St. Vincent de Paul Society and of the Marine Corps League. He leaves his wife of 56 years, Mary I. (Grimes) Ruth; three daughters, Mary Ellen Cancellieri and her husband Kevin of Gardner, Eileen Cusick and her husband John of Springfield, Kathleen Jackson and her husband Glenn of Gardner; two sons, Joseph B. Ruth,III and his wife Mary Jane of West Townsend, James A. Ruth and his wife Susan of Gardner; and fourteen grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son, John Ruth who died in 1956 and by his brother, Robert A. Ruth who died in 2005. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at 11:00 am in St. Denis Church, 85 Main St., Ashburnham. Burial with military honors will be private in Calvary Cemetery, Gloucester. Calling hours will be held Tuesday, September 7, 2010, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Mack Funeral Home, 91 Vernon St., Gardner. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in his memory to St. Vincent DePaul Society, c/o St. Denis Parish, P.O. Box 418, Ashburnham, MA 01430. $(document).ready(function(){ });