Obituary of Donald M. Ruggles

Obituary for Donald Ruggles: Donald Meacham Ruggles, 97, longtime resident of Queensbury and Rhinebeck, New York passed away on June 4, 2024 at Elderwood of Uihlein in Lake Placid. Born in Fort Edward, New York on December 23, 1926, he was the son of the late Robert Warren and Claudia W. Ruggles. Donald lived and attended school in Toronto, Canada for the majority of his childhood. He was a graduate of Glens Falls High School and of Bryant College, Providence, Rhode Island. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War ll. After working many years in sales in the building materials industry, he retired and then worked part-time for the First National Bank of Rhinebeck, New York. He was a former member of the Lions Club of Rhinebeck and a fifty-year member of the Roundout Lodge #343 Free and Accepted Masons, Kingston, New York. Donald is survived by his wife, Betty Ann Nourse Ruggles. He was the proud and loving father of his three daughters, Susan (John) Murphy of Seattle, Washington; Linda (Tom) Kosiba of Burlington, Vermont; and Ann (Dave) Miller of Wilmington, New York. He is survived by his six grandchildren: Kyle (Joanne) and Graham (Danny) Murphy, Jesse (Anna) and Shane Kosiba, and Sage and Laurel Miller. He is also survived by seven great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Donald was predeceased by his brothers, Allan and Robert Ruggles, and his sisters, Millicent Pruyn and Judith Ritchie. Dad was about making genuine connections with those around him. He will be remembered for his ease conversing with others, asking about their families and telling funny anecdotes. He had an infectious smile right to his last days. Dad's final wish expressed to those near to him was that we all stay in touch and connected, a fitting one for a man often described as a "very social guy" who valued learning about the people he met and hearing their stories. Don's family is immensely grateful to New York's Veterans Administration staff, the Saranac Lake Volunteer Ambulance Service, the doctors and nurses at the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake, the community of Saranac Village of Will Rogers where he most recently resided for 18 months, the nurses and caregivers on Unit 3 at Elderwood of Uihlein at Lake Placid, and the nurses and staff from High Peaks Hospice. There will be a private celebration of life to be held at the convenience of the family. The M. B. Clark, Inc., Funeral Home in Lake Placid, NY is in charge of arrangements. Please visit www.mbclarkfuneralhome.com to share a memory, upload a photo or leave condolences. A favorite subject of his reminiscing was his faithful canine companion growing up, Cubby, and we ask that donations to your local humane society or animal shelter be considered in Donald's memory.