Ralph E. Alrutz

Ralph Eugene Alrutz, 86, of Washington, died Friday, July 3, 2009, in Veterans Administration Medical Center, Aspinwall. He was born April 5, 1923, in Mt. Pleasant Township, a son of Lewis Christopher and Annie Helen Seabright Alrutz. Mr. Alrutz graduated from Hickory High School in 1941. During World War II, he served in the South Pacific with the Navy’s Seventh Fleet. For 42 years, he worked as a butcher at several area slaughterhouses. Mr. Alrutz was a member of Avery United Methodist Church, VFW 927, American Legion Post 907 in Taylorstown, Alpine Star Lodge, the Pulaski Club and L.O.O.M 22 and volunteered at Washington Senior Citizens Center. On February 18, 1989, he married Thelma H. Craig, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Kenneth Eugene (Kelly) Alrutz of Middletown, Connecticut; one daughter, Patricia A. (Raymond) Platts of Scenery Hill; three step-daughters, Debbie Shriver, Linda Parry and Sandra Andrews; five grandchildren, Raymond and Mark Platts and Megan, Rikki and Grahm Alrutz; one great-grandchild, Lilah Rae Platts; six step grandchildren; Darin, Heather, Holly, Johnathan, Heide and Bryan; and four step great-grandchildren, Shiloh, Morgan, Chance, and Gabriell. Friends will be received Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 7th, with Rev. Ruth Simmons officiating. Burial will follow in Washington Cemetery. Military rites will be accorded graveside by Edwin Scott Linton Post 175 of the American Legion.