George Stephen “Steve” Ruther, 66, of Reisterstown, MD passed away on August 19, 2014 at the Dove House in Westminster, MD. He was born on March 4, 1948 in Summit, NJ to the late George Joseph and Josie Charman (nee Bennett) Burns.

Steve grew up in Millstone Twp. Monmouth County, NJ and after graduating Allentown High School in Allentown, NJ; he joined the US Marines Corps and served in Viet Nam as a helicopter crew chief.

After military service, Steve married his wife Patricia (nee Hekl) of 44 years. He became a union certified Plumber and Pipefitter in Rockland County, NY where he and his family lived for 5 years before moving to Saco, Maine. In Maine, Steve used those skills in the years that followed: supervising the maintenance and refitting of nuclear subs at the Portsmouth Naval Base, working at the Bath Iron Works on the Aegis Cruise Missile System, and partnering as a mechanical contractor in the Saco area home construction industry. In 1996, Steve returned to employment with the Federal Government: first, joining the staff at FLETC (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center) in Brunswick, Ga. as a maintenance supervisor. He and his wife then moved to Maryland and worked in Washington, DC at the Office of Personnel Management, also as a maintenance supervisor. Most recently he worked for the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection as a Business Operations Specialist. He was looking forward to retirement when a sudden illness ended his life.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughter Patricia “Trish” Jean Ruther, son Stephen Joseph and wife Theresa Ruther, daughter Lori Ann Ruther, all of Westminster MD, grandchildren Caitlyn, Steven and Nicole. He is also survived by his sister, Linda Hagan of Monroe Township, NJ. He is predeceased by granddaughter Elizabeth Ruther. Steve gained a great deal of satisfaction and pride in the care of his family, whom he loved dearly. He will be greatly missed.

Family will receive friends at the Eline Funeral Home, 11824 Reisterstown Road, Reisterstown, MD on Monday 3-5 & 7-9pm. Service will be held on Tuesday, 9:30am. Interment will be in Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dove House Carroll Hospice, 292 Stoner Ave., Westminster, MD 21157 or Access Carroll, Inc., 10 Distillery Drive, Suite 200, Westminster, MD 21157. Online condolences may be made at www.ElineFuneralHome.com

Affiliations