James Ruffing Obituary

James Michael Ruffing

Dec 19, 1941 - Apr 17, 2024

Lancaster

James Michael "Jim" Ruffing, 82, a long-time resident of Delaware, Ohio, and recently residing in Lancaster, passed away to be with our Lord.

As a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother, he was a gentle and insatiably curious man who enjoyed conversing with all.

Jim was born in Bellevue to Mark and Stella (Krupp) Ruffing. After his 1960 Bellevue High School graduation, Jim enlisted in U.S. Navy. He wed his love, Mavalynn (Mava or Mavie) Margaret Roberts, a 1960 York High School grad, on Oct. 13, 1962, at Charleston Naval Base, South Carolina. After the Navy, Jim earned his BS from University of Florida, his Master's from Ohio State, and was an OSU grad student teacher while taking PhD-level courses in electrical engineering. Jim worked for SEA Electric in Columbus, then North Electric (later ITT North) in Delaware, near which Jim and Mava moved with their three children in 1975. They spent most of their lives there, raising their family (and as grandparents to 13), devoted to each other, their home, and their hobbies.

Jim is survived on his side by his sister, Marilyn (Ruffing) Kocher; brothers, Francis (Jennifer) and Terry (Sharon) Ruffing; sister-in law, Eileen Ruffing; on Mava's side, his sister-in-law, Kathy (Roberts) (Verhoff) Ashbaugh; and with Mava, by their daughter, Donna (Garnail) Fulton, and grandchildren, Megan, Austin, Haley, Leah, and Caleb; daughter, Debra (Kirk) Pierce, and grandchildren, Rachel, Henry, Simon, and Natalie; and son, Michael (April) Ruffing, and grandchildren, Stephanie, Jessica, Ashley, and Mark.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mava; on his side by brothers, Mark (Peggy), John, and William "Bill" (Marcie) Ruffing; and brother-in-law, William "Bill" Kocher; on Mava's side by his brother-in-law, Samuel Roberts; and sister-in-law, Alice (Roberts) Van Valkenberg.

Jim's funeral, interment, and luncheon will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at St. Gaspar Del Buffalo Catholic Church, St. Michael's Cemetery, and St. Gaspar's Parish Hall, all on County Road 46, Bellevue.

Providing arrangements and more details are Foos & Foos Funeral Service, foosfuneral.com.

Donations may be made to The Senior Hub/Meals on Wheels of Fairfield Co. at theseniorhubfc.org/donate.