‘Lowell Edward Ruggles, 77, Gettysburg, PA passed away on Monday, February 10, 2025 at his home, surrounded by his loving family.He was born June 5, 1947 in Hanover, PA the son of the late Lowell S. and Mary Brendle Ruggles. Ed is survived by his wife of 55 years, Beverly Morehead Ruggles.Ed graduated from Littlestown High School in 1965. In 1969 he earned his B.S. in Elementary Education from Shippensburg University, in 1971 he received his M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Shippensburg University, followed by a M.Ed.Admin from Western Maryland College. From 1969 until 1979, Ed was a Head Teacher for the Migrant Education Program. For ten years, starting in 1969, he was a sixth-grade teacher in Keefauver Elementary School in Gettysburg. Then he moved to Meade School as the head teacher, and supervised K-12 Chapter I programs for the Gettysburg Area School District. From 1983 through 1999, Mr. Ruggles was the Elementary Principal for Franklin Township Elementary School, greeting the children with a big smile every day as they stepped off the school bus for the day. From 1999 until his retirement in 2003, he was Principal at Lincoln Elementary School where he was instrumental in redesigning the school and educational model for the school district. Following his retirement, Ed was a Professor of Education at Gettysburg College from 2006 until 2018 and continued his valuable mentorship for the next generation of teachers. Ed was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.Ed’s lifelong passion was education. He was always trying to present a positive role model and help his students excel. His legacy continues to live on in the multitude of students he taught, encouraged and mentored through his years in education. But most of all he loved his family and cherished their time together. The family spent time together on many memorable vacations, visits to children and grandchildren, and loved to unwind at some of their favorite places like Sea Isle City.In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children; Erik Ruggles of Huntington, VT, Whitney McInerney and her husband Daniel of Glen Rock, NJ, Seth Ruggles and his wife Shay of Bowdoinham, Maine, six grandchildren; Sayler Ruggles, Kellen McInerney, Declan McInerney, Luke McInerney, Clare McInerney, River Ruggles, two sisters; Nancy Patterson of Mechanicsburg, PA and Judy Miller of Gettysburg, PA.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, February 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM from St. Francis Catholic Church, Gettysburg with Fr. Michael Pray celebrant. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Monahan Funeral Home in Gettysburg on Sunday, February 16, 2025 from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM and on Monday at the church from 10:00 AM until the time of the Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Dollars for Scholars, PO Box 4339, Gettysburg, PA 17325 or Gettysburg CARES, 117 York Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Online obituary and condolences available at monahanfuneralhome.com
This obituary was originally published here.
