06/28/2011

Obituary for The Rev. Lawrence T. Rugh

The Rev. Lawrence Thiel Rugh, age 88, of Springfield, Ohio passed away in his home on Monday, June 27, 2011 following an extended illness. He was born September 18, 1922 in Shiloh, Ohio.

Graduating from Charleroi High School, near Pittsburgh, he entered Wittenberg University in the fall of 1940. However, he interrupted his education in 1942 to enlist in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a B-29 Navigator in the Pacific Theater with the rank of First Lieutenant. Upon return, he completed his education, graduating from Wittenberg in 1947 and Hamma School of Theology in 1950 and was ordained as a Lutheran minister by the Synod of Ohio, LCA, in May of that year.

He served as pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, London, Ohio from 1950 to 1957, when he accepted a call to First Lutheran, Springfield. He led that congregation for 31 years until his retirement in September of 1988. After retirement he continued his ministry by serving on an interim basis the congregations of Messiah Lutheran, Urbana; St. John's Lutheran, London; First Lutheran, Xenia; St. John's Lutheran, Vandalia; and Good Shepherd Lutheran, Springfield. He also served some 32 area churches as a supply pastor on one or more Sundays.

During his active ministry he was deeply involved in numerous boards, committees and agencies in the community and in the church, locally, on the synod level and nationally. He served as Secretary of the Wittenberg University Board of Directors from 1964-1985. He was honored by Wittenberg with an Alumni Citation, an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree, the Class of 1914 Award, and the Wittenberg Medal of Honor.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Patsy (Pat) Spriggs Rugh and four children: Stephen and his wife Carol of Monroe, Connecticut and Buckeye, Arizona; James and his wife Tanya of Lutz, Florida; Matthew and his wife Sheila of Springfield; and Christa and her husband Frank Detzel of Indianapolis.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 from 4-8:00 p.m. in the Littleton and Rue Funeral Home. Services are scheduled for Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in First Lutheran Church, Corner of West High and Wittenberg, Springfield. To be conducted by The Rev. Larry Donner and The Rev. Larry Houff. Burial in Ferncliff Cemetery. Remembrance contributions may be made to the ELCA Disaster Relief Fund (c/o First Lutheran, P.O. Box 1383, Springfield, Ohio 45501. You may express condolence to the family at www.littletonandrue.com