MONMOUTH ~ George John Ruman Jr. of Monmouth died on Sunday, July 24, 2016 after a long and incredible life of 93 years. He had been cared for at Winthrop Manor Nursing Home where he received wonderful care for the past 3 years until a recent move to Marshwood in Lewiston. He was born in Freeport, Illinois on January 26, 1923 to George Ruman Sr. and Margaret McGarry Ruman. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was 2. He and his brother Guilford were placed in an orphanage in Freeport, Illinois until he was 9 when his father brought him to Winthrop, ME to live. He graduated from Winthrop High School in 1941 and in 1948 married his wife of 54 years, Colleen Sands Ruman. They had two daughters, Rebecca and Candace. George lived in Winthrop and Monmouth for most of his life. He joined the Seabees to serve his country. He worked in the Carleton Woolen Mill in Winthrop after graduation. He learned the building trade by working at his step-grandfather’s lumber yard and built homes for a living. He enjoyed hunting and fishing in his younger years. In 1944 at the age of 21 he became Winthrop’s youngest selectman. He was a volunteer firefighter in Winthrop and was badly burned during a fire. He later became Monmouth’s Fire Chief for some time. Later he began a career teaching the building trade at Central Maine Vocational Technical Institute in Auburn for over 20 years. He had a passion for learning and after 10 years of night school he graduated with a Master’s Degree from the University of Southern Maine at the age of 44. He was a mentor and friend to many and was known for his patience and willingness to teach others both on the job and in his personal life. He enjoyed gardening, reading, working in his yard and driving “ole blue”. He loved his wife, girls, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews dearly. He had two special companions in the last few years Vera Heckard and Polly Hennings who both predeceased him. He loved animals especially his hound dog, Poop Chonck, Brindle and his cats. He was known to be a prankster, had a very positive attitude, rarely complained and had an amazing work ethic. He was pre-deceased by his father, mother, brother, step-mother, step-brother, wife, a nephew and a great-nephew. He is survived by two daughters, Becky Turcotte and her husband Butch Turcotte, daughter Candy Gray and husband Danny Gray, six grandchildren, Brandon Ridley, Corey Ridley, Ashley Sawyer, Christl Theriault, Tracey Dorian, and Trevor Dorian, 24 great-grandchildren, 6 nieces and 2 nephews. George would tell many stories of poverty and harsh conditions growing up during the depression but that only made him stronger and it did not stop him from becoming successful. He had a rags to riches story for he certainly had gained great wealth in family, friends, knowledge, love and respect. As Linda Ellis so eloquently described in her poem The Dash, “What matters most is the dash between those years”. The dash that shaped George’s 93 years here certainly made our world a better place. We love you and know that death can never separate those who are bound together by the ties of pure love. Please stop by to celebrate George’s life at an open house to be held at Becky Turcotte’s home located at 5 Cemetery Road in Monmouth on August 20, 2016 from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Arrangements are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 62 Bowdoin Street, Winthrop. Memories, condolences, photos, and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of our website at khrfuneralhomes.com