Harold A. Rugh

| October 12, 2017

Harold A. Rugh, 87, of 605 Halyday Run Road, Oil City, PA died at 12:30 am at Oakwood Heights, Wednesday, October 11, 2017.

Born January 31, 1930, in Oil City, PA, he was the son of the late George W. and Erma Phyllis Hogue Rugh.

He was educated in the Oil City public schools and The International Correspondence School of Scranton, PA where he studied Diesel Locomotive Design, Construction and Train Air Brake Systems. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force having served in Alaska and the Aleutian Islands.

Mr. Rugh was married to his first love, the former Dorothy Irene Frank of Oil City on June 28, 1952, at the First Presbyterian Church of Oil City, by the Reverend Doctor Norman R. Adams and she survives.

After completing his military service, Mr. Rugh was first employed in 1951 by The Pennsylvania Railroad Company in Oil City as a locomotive fireman and was eventually promoted to locomotive engineer.

After completing his studies at the International Correspondence School, he was subsequently promoted into the railroad management team with the Lehigh Valley Railroad as Assistant Road Foreman of Engines in 1963 at Manchester, NY.

In 1967 he was promoted to Trainmaster, with the Lehigh Valley Railroad at Buffalo, NY and then to Division Road Foreman of Engines on the New York Division.

In 1970 he was promoted to Chief of Mechanical Operations of the New York Division at Newark, New Jersey.

In June of 1976, Mr. Rugh was selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as a Motive Power and Equipment Safety Inspector for the Boston Region.

In 1982 he was transferred to the Philadelphia Regional office located in Pittsburgh, PA.

In 1993, he was awarded the title of Federal Inspector of the Year from a staff of 400 other safety inspectors throughout the United States.

In 1995, Mr. Rugh was promoted to the position of Chief of Railroad Mechanical Inspectors in the Philadelphia Region where he retired on October 1, 2003, after a total of 52 years of combined Railroad and Federal service.

Mr. Rugh served as a railroad safety consultant with the consulting firm of PVB Consulting of Tequesta, Florida after his retirement from active railroad service.

Mr. Rugh was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Oil City where he served as an Ordained Elder, Deacon and served on many committees.

Mr. Rugh is survived by his loving wife Dorothy (Dorene) of 65 years, two daughters Carolyn Rugh of Moosic, PA and Darlene Weaver and her husband Dean Weaver of Wyoming, PA and a son Frank W. Rugh and his wife Jeanine of Old Forge, PA. He is also survived by six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Also surviving is a brother Harlan W. Rugh and his wife Melda of Rocky Grove.

Friends may call at the Morrison Funeral Home on Thursday from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm.

Funeral services will be held at 11 am Friday at the First Presbyterian Church in Oil City with the Rev. Ronee Christy, pastor, officiating.

Interment will be in Lamey Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made at www.morrisonhome.com.


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Category: Obituaries