Guilford Ruman Obituary (1921 - 2003)

WINTHROP ? Guilford J. 'Gil' Ruman, 81, of Winthrop died Tuesday, March 11, 2003, at Augusta Rehabilitation. He was born in Chicago, June 22, 1921, the son of George and Margaret (McGary) Ruman. When Gil was 3 years old, his mother died of tuberculosis and Gil and his brother went to live in St. Vincent's Orphanage in Freeport, Ill. When their father remarried, the boys rejoined their father and his new wife, moving to Winthrop in 1932. Mr. Ruman graduated from Winthop High School in 1939 and joined the Navy that same year. He fought in World War II and was wounded June 7, 1943 when his ship, the USS Gannet was sunk by a torpedo. Twenty men died in the explosion but Gil survived after drifting for 19 hours in a life raft. He spent a year recovering from his injuries at various Navy hospitals but returned to action and finished the war, being discharged in 1945. He visited the Hawaiian Islands, Tahiti, Samoa, Wake, Midway, Galapagos Islands, British Columbia, Mexico, South American, Africa, Panama Canal Zone, Cuba, Bermuda, Iceland, Newfoundland, Greenland and the British West Indies, all during his service in the Navy. After the war, Gill spent some time in Chicago, but eventually returned to Winthrop in 1948. He married Kathleen Rathey in 1952. He worked as an oil burner technician until his retirement in 1982. Gil married Carolyn Owens Morgan in 1992. She died July 14, 2000. Mr. Ruman was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. He enjoyed fishing and gardening and truly loved the outdoors. He was an adventurer spending many hours on his motorcycles. He had a real love for his children and to them he was a true hero. He performed many acts of kindness and was known for his generosity and good deeds, though he never spoke of them. He was a man of great strength and courage and always put others first. Gil was quite a practical joker and never seemed to lose his sense of humor, even in the great suffering of his last days. The residents and employees at Augusta Rehabilitation enjoyed his company. Mr. Ruman was predeceased by his wife, Carolyn; his son, Shawn Ruman; and his faithful companion, Elmer. He is survived by a son, Stephen Ruman and his wife, Dorilynn, of Greene; two daughters, Jacquelyn Herrin and her husband, Andrew, of Vienna, and Sherry Ruman of Winthrop; a brother, George Ruman of Lithfield; three stepsons, Scott, Stewart and Sherman Scribner; a grandson, Jason Ruman, along with several nieces, nephews and cousins. Relatives and friends may visit from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, with the Rev. Brian Blanchette as celebrant. Burial will be in the spring at Glenside Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Shawn G. Ruman Memorial Fund c/o Central Maine Technical College, 1250 Turner St., Auburn 04210.