Ida M. Ruch

Ida M. Ruch, 77, of Allentown, passed away Tuesday, April 14, 2026 surrounded by her family. Born in Philadelphia Naval Hospital, Ida grew up in Repaupo, NJ, graduated from Paulsboro High School and studied Journalism at Syracuse University. Ida was analytical, organized, and strived to do her best at everything she did. Professionally, she worked for a short time at the Trentonian and the Buchanan Register and later as a waitress at the Coach and Four, a restaurant in Hightstown. It was here that one of her diners asked her to come and work for him at National Lead. Following her time there, she began her career at Dow Jones where she worked for 31 years, retiring as manager of the international collections department.

Her time working at the Coach and Four also impacted her personal life. It was there she worked with her future mother-in-law who asked Ida to pick up her son, Ken, from the airport, as he was home on leave from Vietnam. Sparks flew and the rest was history! They wrote each other for a year and a half while he was overseas. Once he returned, they lived together for a few years and married in 1977, welcoming their daughter Heather, a year later. After living in West Virginia and back to New Jersey, Ida and Ken planted roots in Allentown, NJ, where they lived for 42 years and welcomed their son, KC.

As a faithful member of Allentown Presbyterian Church, Ida served as church deacon for ten years and also as the administrator of Crossroads Youth Center, making sure the food always coincided with the traditional foods, according to the holidays celebrated, truly enjoying what she did and the connections she made. Ida was active in other ways in her community, serving as President of the Allentown Recreational Soccer program for ten years.

An avid birdwatcher, she would be everyone’s bird book to anyone who asked what kind of bird they just saw! When the season hit, she was always cheering on the Phillies and thoroughly enjoyed baseball. And don’t forget her Eagles! Both the football team and the bird, she cheered for them both when she saw them. Seeing her at the horse track was not uncommon either, her favorite being Saratoga. Sometimes planned and sometimes not, she would jump in the car and go for a road trip, as adventure was in her blood. Ida spent many summers in Canada fishing on Opinicon Lake or in Kingston, exploring. Her wanderlust led her to many new places and restaurants, so she always had a restaurant recommendation for you, no matter where you were! Her baking shouldn’t go unnoted; every Christmas you could count on Ida’s famous cookies, a variety of sometimes twenty or more, that were almost as delicious as her incredible baklava. She made every moment count, as she had a zest for life and lived like it.

Ida loved people, she would easily be characterized as always putting others before herself, selfless. She was a loving and supportive wife to the love of her life, Ken, mother to her two children, grandmother of three, and friend to many, who was devoted to her family and the Lord, Jesus Christ. Love came first with Ida, anyone who ever met her knew it, with her often saying, “Lead with Love.”

Daughter of the late Helen and Carl Weitz, Ida is survived by her husband of 49 years, Kenneth H. Ruch; her daughter and son-in-law, Heather and David Oczkowski; her son and daughter-in-law, K.C. and Lara Ruch; her grandchildren, Julian, Dominik, Austin, K.J., and Isabel; her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Bernez and Bill Hengeli, Mary Frances and Joe Spano, William R. and Susan Ruch, Lynn and Steven Foster, Linda Ruch, Daniel and Charley Ruch, and Kirsten Ruch, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, April 23rd from 10am until 11:30am with a funeral service beginning at 11:30am at the Allentown Presbyterian Church, 20 High St, Allentown, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ida’s name to Crossroads Youth Ministry, 20 High St., Allentown, NJ 08501.

Arrangements are under the direction of Peppler Funeral Home, Allentown.