Résumé

Military service, United States Navy (USN), 1959. (See Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1959, p. 677.) He was an Ensign in the US Navy.

Associate, Walker McGough Foltz and Lyerla, Architects and Engineers, Spokane, WA, c. 1972.

Partner, Walker McGough Foltz and Lyerla, Architects and Engineers, Spokane, WA, c. 1978.

Partner, Integrus Architecture, Spokane, WA, 1991-

Chairman of the Board, Integrus Architecture, Spokane, WA.

Professional Activities

Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA), Spokane Chapter.

Registered Architect in the State of WA, 1961.

Secondary School / College

Attended Garfield & Jefferson Elementary School, Spokane, WA.

Graduate, Lewis & Clark High School, Spokane, WA, 1952. Ruehl was an outstanding track athlete at Lewis and Clark High School, earning All-City honors in the 880-yard run and gained All-City honors in cross-country, too.

B.S., Architectural Engineering, Washington State College (WSC), Pullman, WA. Of Ruehl's training a 1955 article in the Spokane Chronicle reported in 1961: “Gordon E. Ruehl of Spokane, graduate of Washington State University. He served as lieutenant in the Navy in Japan.” (See "12 Couples Are Honored Guests at Reception," Spokane Chronicle, 11/14/1961, p. 19.) At WSC, Ruehl competed on the track team and became President of his Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity.

Relocation

The son of an architect, Gordon Ernest Ruehl was born in Denver, CO, in 1934.

Ruehl was in the US Navy in 1959, but listed his parents house at South 2908 Manito Boulevard in Spokane as his permanent residence. (See Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1959, p. 677.) Ruehl was commissioned a naval lieutenant and served in Sasebo, Japan.

He and his wife had two residences, one in Spokane, and the other at Priest Lake, ID, about 80 miles away in the state's northern panhandle.

The architect passed away from mesothelioma in Spokane, WA, at the age of 77. He was buried in the Greenwood Memorial Terrace, Spokane, WA.

Parents

His father was Benjamin Karl Ruehl (born 06/22/1899 in Reedsburg, WI-d. 04/17/1987 in Spokane, WA) was also an architect, who had an office in the Old National Bank Building, Room #1029, in 1959. (See Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1959, p. 677.)

Myrtle Emilie Peters (born 02/25/1905 in Mount Clemens, MI-d. 12/20/1994 in Spokane, WA), his mother, managed the household that included two boys. She lived for 60 years in Spokane.

He had a brother Benjamin John Ruehl (born 02/20/1929 in Detroit, MI-d. 09/28/2009 in Spokane, WA). Benjamin, a buyer for The Crescent Department Store, married Marjorie Anne Martin (born 08/07/1932 in Hamburg, IA-d. 11/26/2019 in Spokane, WA)

Spouse

He wed Janet Lee Chisholm (born 04/1937) on 06/28/1958 in Spokane, WA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013; Reference Number: easpmcb20805, accessed 05/02/2023.) Her parents were Marshall Spencer Chisholm (born 12/11/1904 in BC, Canada-d. 02/03/1991 in Spokane, WA) and Florence Carolyn Johnson (born 02/26/1906 in Tacoma, WA-d. 06/15/1991 in Spokane, WA)

She attended Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane.

Children

He and Janet had four children: Kathleen Ruehl Robinson of Roscoe, IL; Kevin of Spokane, WA; Scott of Boise, ID; and Isabelle Ruehl.

Biographical Notes

President, Washington State University (WSU), Parent's Association, 1981-1982.

Member, WSU Foundation, Pullman, WA.

Co-Chair, WSU, Engineering & Architecture Campaign, Pullman, WA, 1996.

Recipient, WSU Foundation, Outstanding Service Award, Pullman, WA, 1997.

Chair, WSU, Spokane, Design Disciplines Board, Spokane, WA.

Member, Downtown Rotary Club #21, Spokane, WA.

Member, Boy Scouts of America, Spokane, WA.

Member, Fairmount Memorial Association (Cemetery) Board, Executive Committee, Spokane, WA.

Member, Westminster Congregational UCC Church, Spokane, WA.