Robin Ruge Betts

Howard John Ruge was born on August 7, 1918, in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA. His parents were Charles Franz Ruge (1882-1942) and Alma Helen Kister (1882-1964). He had five siblings: Mabel Mattie Evelyn (1910-1987), Roy Paul William (1912-1913), Charles Otto Andrew (1915-1984), Lillian (1917-1917), and William Warren Ruge (1920-2011). Howard grew up in Chicago and worked at Universal Casting Co. when he registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, at the age of 22. Two years later, on September 10, 1942, he enlisted in the Army in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 24. He was assigned to the Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA, and served as a Private in the Selectees (Enlisted Men) component. In September 1944, Howard was admitted to a medical facility for acute or unqualified otitis media. He was discharged from the Army on December 9, 1945. The following year, Howard married Veronica Ada Mansell (1919–2018) on January 11, 1946, in Chicago. They went on to have five children. Howard John Ruge passed away on October 1, 1988, at the Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA following a two week illness.