Ruth Gorgas

Ruth was born on Oct. 20, 1931, to Gilford and Freda Christensen of Woodbridge.

Ruth received a B.A. in teaching and mathematics from Montclair State College, where she also played basketball, and was working toward a master’s degree before her marriage to Richard K. Gorgas in 1956. Ruth lived most of her married years in Chatham, New Jersey. She had a wide circle of friends from all walks of life and enjoyed many adventures with her family, including annual camping trips on Lower Saranac Lake, a three-year residence in Geneva, Switzerland, and extensive travel during her retirement. She always said she wanted her children to move far away so she would have interesting places to visit.

Ruth was a woman of faith, resting her hope on Jesus Christ for the circumstances of life and for her final walk Home. Every Sunday that she was able, she dressed up in her best clothes, including necklaces, nylons and hatpins, and joined her fellow believers for worship services in Mt. Tabor, New Jersey, followed by dinner at one of her children’s homes or a restaurant. She purchased an old wheelchair-accessible van, and even when she was wheelchair-bound, the highlights of her days were outings with her grandchildren, to parks, restaurants and even doctor appointments. Her last birthday was celebrated, as usual, with pizza in a park, and despite cold rainy weather, she was honored with a huge turnout and bonfire.

A long time ago she asked that the following Biblical quote be added to her memorial: “She has done what she could” (Mark 14:8). She recognized her own limitations and wanted to be remembered that way.

Ruth is survived by six children: Marilyn Cahill (Gilbert) of Malone, Keith Gorgas (Doreen) of Saranac Lake, Frederick Gorgas (Lisa) of Succasunna, New Jersey, Margaret Gorgas of Mine Hill, New Jersey, Grace Turner (Richard) of Encinitas, California, and Christopher Gorgas (Linda) of Spring Hill, Florida; a daughter-in-law Joy Gorgas of Dorothy, New Jersey; as well as 41 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and countless cousins and friends. She was predeceased in 2004 by her husband Richard Gorgas.

Final arrangements are being made by Tuttle Funeral Home in Randolph, New Jersey; however, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no in-house service at this time. She will be interred in her family plot, with her husband and parents, at Cloverleaf Memorial Park in Woodbridge, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Samaritan’s Purse Emergency Medicine Project, assisting COVID-19 patients in New York City and Italy, online at https://tinyurl.com/rmgmemorial or by mail: Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.