Ronnie G. Ruffner's Obituary
Ronnie G. Ruffner, wonderful husband, loving father, supportive father-in-law, beloved Papaw, and devoted man of God passed away peacefully at home in Waldorf, Maryland, on May 12, 2024, surrounded by family. He was 82 years old.
Ron was born on October 26, 1941, in Pruden, Tennessee. Ron married his beloved wife, Mary Joyce Ruffner on October 18, 1986. Ron and Joyce enjoyed many wonderful years together. They loved music and dancing, traveling, and taking family vacations. They also enjoyed being involved in their home church, Trinty Baptist Church, where Ron served as a Head Deacon and Treasurer for many years.
Anyone who was blessed to know him loved him. He was fun, funny, silly, strong, wise, caring, kind, firm, loving, and full of faith. He loved his family beyond measure. His laugh was contagious, and his dad jokes were some of the cheesiest and the best. He never lost his sense of humor and was even making one-liners during his final days.
Ron joined the United States Army in 1959. He was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and he later served overseas in Ethiopia, Panama, and several other locations around the United States. He served the Army on the Nuclear Power Program with the Army Corps of Engineers and worked on the Army’s MH-1A Sturgis, a floating nuclear power plant, which provided power to the Panama Canal from 1968 to 1975. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. Upon retiring from the Army after 20 years of service, he started two businesses, FEMCOR and Preventative Maintenance Services, specializing in HVAC.
Ron is survived by his wife of 38 years, Mary Joyce Ruffner, his five children and their families: Diana (Allan) Braun of Wake Forest, North Carolina; Cindy (Fred) Kaoud of Wilton, Connecticut; Ernie (Mary) Davies of Jefferson, Maryland; Ronnie (Carolyn) Ruffner, Jr. of Baltimore, Maryland and Leigh Ann (Jim) Logan of Indian Head, Maryland; nine grandchildren: Jordan Ruffner, Caymus Ruffner, Grayson Ruffner, Anna Davies, Avery Logan, Savannah Logan, Isabella Kaoud, John Kaoud and Neil Kaoud; his brothers-in-laws Larry Rininger and Ben Davis; his sister-in-law, Anna Adams and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. Ronnie was predeceased by his parents, Vane and Geraldine (Baird) Ruffner, his sisters, Anna Sue Davis and Julia Lou Rininger, his brother, Larry D. Ruffner, his sister-in-law, Yvonne (“Butchie”) Ruffner, his ex-wife Marisa Ruffner-Fikiet, his niece Ann Renee Rininger, and his great-nephew Chase Anthony Vane Ditter.
A visitation will be held on Monday, May 20, 2024, from 4:00PM-7:00PM at Raymond Funeral Service, PA, 5635 Washington Ave, La Plata, Maryland. On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at Trinity Baptist Church, 2671 Mattawoman-Beantown Road, Waldorf, Maryland, a viewing will be held at 10:00AM, followed by funeral services at 11:00AM. Interment will immediately follow at Trinity Memorial Gardens & Mausoleum, 3221 Mattawoman-Beantown Road, Waldorf, Maryland. The funeral service will be available via livestream at www.tbcwaldorf.org.
Family and friends are welcome to join Ron’s family for a repast at Trinity Baptist Church immediately following the Interment.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Ron’s memory to the American Lung Association.
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