Joseph (Joe) Eugene Ruhl

In Memory

JOSEPH (JOE) EUGENE RUHL

Joseph (Joe) Eugene Ruhl passed away on March 24, 2019 a month after celebrating his 90th birthday. Born on February 24, 1929, Joe was the youngest of eight siblings growing up on a farm just north of Greenfield, OK. He graduated from Greenfield in 1947. Shortly after starting college at Northeastern Oklahoma University, he was drafted into the Army. He served as a cook for 11 months in a forward post during the Korean war prior to being sent to Breckenridge, KY where he received specialized communication training for the remainder of his 2-year commitment. Joe’s communication experience landed him a job at Western Electrical Industrial installing communication equipment for AT&T around the country. During this time, he took over the family farming operation that he continued until his death. After Western, he worked 7 years out of the Tinker Air Force Base conducting emergency work on satellite and communication equipment near the Canadian/US border that was used to pick up Russian communications and track Russian planes. He spent a short time at the Nebraska missile silos, before taking his talents to the Army in Kentucky where he was deployed around the world. One notable trip, Joe nearly completed a trip around the world traveling via airplane to install communications equipment from New York to Frankfurt, Germany to Ethiopia and to the Marshall Island before returning to Lexington, KY. He spent most of his time in Germany where he met Elisabeth his wife of 47 years. While deployed around the world, he would often take military flights home to continue the necessary farming activities. Joe retired in 1981 and took up farming fulltime moving to his childhood home. Joe is survived by his brother Clint of Coffeyville, KS, his wife Elisabeth, three children, Chris (Lisa), Michael and Karen (Shelby) and four grandchildren.

Funeral services for Joseph Ruhl will be Friday, March 29, 2019 at 1:00 P.M. at the Greenfield Baptist Church in Greenfield, OK with Rev. Charlie Sappington officiating. Burial will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Watonga.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cowboy Church or the Greenfield Baptist Church.

Online condolences at www.wilkinsonmortuary.com