Robert “Rob” Charles Ruhlin, 33, of Dallas died Saturday, Oct. 18, at Methodist Dallas Medical Center as a result of injuries suffered in a traffic accident.
Services will be held at Dettling Funeral Home in Houston at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24. A memorial will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at The Magnolia in Dallas.
Ruhlin was born Nov. 1, 1980 in Houston, the oldest child of Judy Mosley Ruhlin and Bruce Michael Ruhlin. From his early years, he was a planner and strategic thinker who enjoyed masterminding activities which would get his little brother in trouble. Where other children had excuses, Ruhlin had a detailed analytical argument reviewing the pros and cons.
He and his family moved to Charleston, W.Va. in April 1990. Ruhlin went to Sacred Heart Elementary School there and graduated Charleston Catholic High School in 1999. In high school, Ruhlin developed his love for playing guitar and drums, and bought his first vintage Cadillac.
Ruhlin graduated from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, in 2003 with degrees in psychology, philosophy and political science. He received his Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law on June 11, 2006. Ruhlin received a Master of Law in Taxation degree from the New York University School of Law in 2010 and was licensed to practice law in Texas, New York, several U.S. District Courts and the United States Tax Court.
Ruhlin married his high school sweetheart, Kristen Adele Pinkston, on July 5, 2003. Although the marriage ended in 2010, they remained friends and she has custody of their beloved dog, Chip.
After law school in 2006, Ruhlin and his wife moved to New York, N.Y. He enjoyed life in a big city, the only drawback being the small space causing him to part with his classic cars and musical equipment. While working for a couple of small law firms, he attended NYU.
Ruhlin relocated from New York to Dallas in August 2010, with three boxes, a suitcase and a snowboard. In Dallas, he worked for Meadows Collier before starting his own practice and was of counsel with Blanscet, Hooper, and Hale. Most recently he was of counsel with Chad West.
Ruhlin embraced life in Dallas, living on Allen Street when he first moved here, but eventually relocating because he felt like he was the old man in the neighborhood. Ruhlin bought a home in Oak Cliff in 2013 and invested hundreds of hours uncovering its hidden beauty. With room to expand, he began to collect vehicles, guitars, and drums. He loved music, running, snowboarding, traveling on the open road and singing karaoke. He loved being out with people. He loved his extended family, and he always attended reunions, weddings and other gatherings.
Ruhlin was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, William Charles Mosley.
He is survived by his parents, Bruce and Judy Ruhlin; his brother, Michael “Mike” Paul Ruhlin; his maternal grandmother, Shirley Laverne Whitley Mosley; his paternal grandparents, William Bradley Ruhlin and Joan Theresa Kavanaugh Ruhlin; and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition October 24, 2014.
