Longtime Shawnee resident Gareth Ruggles, 87, passed away Sunday, September 9, in Tecumseh Sunset Estates.

He was born in Byron, Oklahoma, outside of Alva in 1919.

He graduated from Cyril High School at the age of sixteen as Valedictorian of his class in 1935. He then obtained his bachelor of science degree from the Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas, in education to teach foreign languages.

After a year of post graduate work from Northwestern State University at Alva at the age of twenty two, Gareth joined the army and was shipped to the Philippines where he began training as an Army medic in Manila. Shortly after he arrived in Manila, Pearl Harbor was bombed and the U. S. declared war against Japan. The army troops left for the Bataan peninsula on Christmas Eve. The troops fought the Japanese there for 120 days until the Japanese broke through the lines and surrounded them. Gareth and about twenty other Americans along with some British and Dutch soldiers were captured and marched in groups of 100 for 70 miles, known as the Bataan death march. Gareth survived by dipping water out of ditches and disinfecting it using iodine he hid in his shirt and eating anything he could. He was beaten if natives along the way helped him. The remaining troops were boarded on a train box car, 100 per car, at San Fernando and shipped to a town outside of Bataan. They marched to their first camp known as O'Donnell. They eventually arrived at a prison ship where they were boarded and shipped to Tokyo. After working at dock yards and a mill they were eventually released, for the war had ended.

The Americans sent ships to rescue them and after a few weeks Gareth was back in the states. Before being sent home, he managed to gain weight on his 90 pound frame. He received the Purple Heart for his dedication, valor and service to his country.

Gareth continued his education receiving a bachelor degree in business, a masters in education, a masters in French, and law degree. He practiced law for six years then taught French and Spanish along with business classes at the high schools in Garden City and Holcomb. The second year in Garden City he started teaching half-time at the community college. He taught full time at the college from 1966 until his retirement teaching foreign languages then business, real estate, and Business Law. He taught a total of 25 years.

After retiring, he moved to Shawnee in 1987 with his wife, Mary Jo.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Mary Jo, brother, James Edgar Ruggles, two nieces and two nephews.

Service will be 2:00 p.m. Friday at Wesley United Methodist Church, Shawnee, with Dr. Marvin J. Hudson officiating.

Graveside service will follow with military honors in the Veterans Garden at Resthaven Memorial Park.