William “Bill” Ruffin, 88 years old, went from labor to reward on March 2, 2010 at Sentara Obici Hospital Suffolk, Virginia after a brief illness. He was born March 3, 1921 in Jackson, North Carolina, the son of the late Annie and Linwood Ruffin.
He attended public schools and was a member of Boones Chapel in Jackson, North Carolina. During WW II, Bill served in the US Army from September 1942- January 1946 as a Private First Class, 1519th Engineers Water Supply Company receiving an honorable discharge. He received a Victory Medal, EAMET Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, and Philippine Liberation Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star. He saw service in Manila, Japan, New Guinea and Guadalcanal.
He worked for the Norfolk Naval Base, retiring after thirty-three years of service. He was a prolific reader, a world and biblical history buff and a great story teller. Every family trip and visit was a history lesson. He enjoyed telling his children about his upbringing and the many adventures and challenges he experienced serving in a segregated Army. He would have us on the edge of our seats as he told every detail of how he courted our Mom. In his younger years he enjoyed fishing and small game hunting. He and our Mom left to their children a legacy of integrity, hard work, service, and unconditional love for each other.
In February 1945 he married, Dorothy Lee Cherry Ruffin, who predeceased him. He will be missed by his four daughters: Anna Ruffin of the home. C. Diane Ruffin and Leola (Charles) McPhee of Poughkeepsie, N.Y, and Annie Boulding of Austin, Texas. Six sons: William “Pete” (Diana) of Poughkeepsie, NY, Kenneth of Newburg, NY, Julius (Vivian) of Suffolk, Va., Al Ray (Linda) of Pompano Beach, Fla, Percy (Sharon) of Virginia Beach, Va. and Wesley (Lois) Read of Baltimore, Md. Sister-In Laws: Doris Brown and Sarluta (Charles) Davis of Poughkeepsie, NY and Ella Dora Ruffin of Brooklyn, NY. Brother-in-Laws: Hollis (Rose) Cherry and Bernard (Virginia) Cherry of Rich Square, NC. Additional survivors include fourteen grandchildren, twenty-seven great-grand children, four great-great grand children and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by two brothers, George and Harold Ruffin and four sisters, Hazel Walden, Mamie Pope, Alice Mae Watford, and Kathleen Harris.
Visitation will be Saturday, March 6. 2010 from 11:00 am to 12 noon at the Bethlehem Christian Church, 312 Bute Street, Suffolk, VA with Emanuel Myrick Jr. officating, followed by full Military honors. Burial will be in the Meadow Brooks Cemetery. Arrangements by Crocker Funeral Home, 900 East Washington Street, Suffolk, VA 23434.
