Sherrell Layo Ruhl

Sherrell Layo Ruhl was born January 24, 1936, in Warren County, IL the third child of Myron and Edna Ruhl. He received his bachelor's degree from Knox College in Galesburg, IL in 1958. One of the highlights of his college career was flying to Europe (on a prop plane) with the Knox College choir to sing at the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels, Belgium. After college, he taught K-12 music in the Orient and Waukon, IA public schools. After moving to the state of Washington, he taught at King's Garden and managed a music store. On a visit back to Illinois he met Laura Louise Leadley. Drawn together by their love of the Lord and music, they were married on December 29, 1966 despite an ill-timed snow storm. Their honeymoon was a cross-country train trip back from Illinois to Washington huddled under the blankets they had gotten as wedding gifts. In 1972, Sherrell accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Music at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, IA. He also conducted the concert band, Mensingers group, and many small ensembles during his twenty years of service. He also served in the administration for several years as financial aid director. While teaching at FBBC, he completed his master's degree at University of Iowa. In 1992, he shifted his music ministry to Pillsbury Baptist Bible College where he taught for another 5 years before retiring in 1997. After several moves in retirement, Sherrell and Laura came to Albuquerque, NM to be near their daughter. On May 19, 2023, after a long struggle with heart disease, he went home to be with his Saviour. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother William Kirk Ruhl, and sister Marilyn (Ruhl) Jordan. He is survived by his wife Laura Lousie Ruhl and daughter Allison (Ruhl) Bigelow both of Albuquerque, NM.