Robert Byron Ruethain

Bob Ruethain was born in Hollywood, California on June 22, 1926, to Byron Ruethain and Hazel Dorothy Shillinglaw Ruethain. At age 9 Bob started playing the trumpet which he played for the rest of his life. At age 18 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Kaneohe Bay Naval Air Station as a Musician 3rd Class playing his trumpet.

While in Hawaii Bob played in dance bands, big bands and also played taps at the Battleship Arizona Memorial. After he completed his enlistment Bob used his veterans benefits to attend LSU and then to Washington University in St. Louis where he graduated with a BS in Business Management. He was active in the Theta XI fraternity and was a trustee of the fraternity in later years. While attending Washington University Bob had a blind date with Joan (Jo) Hake who was attending Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Mo. It must have been one heck of a date because they married 7 months later on June 24, 1950.

Bob worked for Southwestern Bell for a short time before moving to McDonnell Aircraft (now Boeing) in St. Louis originally as Manager of Operations and finally as a Director of Human Resources.

He was very active in his faith and active in Kirkwood United Methodist and Bonhomme Presbyterian churches.

Bob and Jo were members of the “Always Dinner and Sometimes Bridge Club” (ADSBC). They met every month for dinner (and sometimes bridge) since 1966. At 98 years old, Dad was the last surviving member.

Bob and Jo had three children – Robin (Ken) Hanger, Ron (Jan) Ruethain and Roslyn (Lee) Strain. Their grandchildren include Chris (Carrie) Hanger, Robert (Jennifer) Hanger, Katie (Russ) Gottwald, Jayme (Joel) Durrwachter and Jennifer (Brian) Hecht. They also had 9 Great Grandchildren. Bob was known affectionately as “Granddaddy”. All agree that he was the best Dad, Grandfather and Great Grandfather EVER!

Bob passed on November 26, 2024, 77 days after the passing of his beautiful wife Jo. They were married for 74 years. Bob and Jo will be cremated and placed together at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.