Richard Henry Ruff

Richard Henry Ruff, 85, died April 19, 2016. Born on January 14, 1931, in the St. Philip’s Community in Newberry, he was a son of the late David Luther & Nell Lominick Ruff. He graduated from Newberry College in 1952 with a BS in Mathematics and the University of South Carolina in 1954 with a Master of Education.

After serving in the military in Germany, Richard returned home to teach school for several years & then to run a dairy farm. Later on, he went to work & retire with the US Postal Service as a mail carrier. He was chosen as Newberry County Outstanding Young Farmer in 1964 & his family was named SC Region IV Family of the Year in 1983.

Richard was a lifelong member of St. Philip’s Lutheran Church where he was active throughout the years in many capacities - Church Council, Sunday School Teacher & Superintendent, Youth Advisor, President & District President of Lutheran Church Men, & Secretary-Treasurer of St. Philip’s Perpetual Care Cemetery Association. At his death, he was a member of the Adult B Sunday School Class & Joy Fellowship

Richard formerly served as Director & Vice Chairman of Newberry Electric Cooperative, Director & Secretary-Treasurer of Newberry County Farm Bureau, & was a member of the Lower Newberry Farmer Association, the Newberry County Beef Cattle Association, the South Carolina Jersey Cattle Club and the St. Philip’s Fire Department. He also served as President of the Pomaria Ruritan Club & was a Zone Governor with Ruritan National.

Richard loved his Jersey cattle & enjoyed many years of showing cattle with his children & activities associated with the Jersey Cattle Club.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years Patty Hite Ruff; daughter Nancy Jane Ruff Shirley of Salisbury, NC; son Charles Richard Ruff (Kimberly) of Charlotte, NC; grandchildren David Andrew Shirley (Fiancee Kristen Hall) of Charlotte, NC and Sarah Catherine Shirley Michalec (Russell) of Jamestown, NC; sisters Mary Sease Riser (Pick) and Lunelle Harmon (Harry), both of Newberry. He was predeceased by son-in-law Steven Craig Shirley.

Funeral services will be conducted Friday, April 22nd, 3:00 PM at St. Philip’s Lutheran church by the Rev. Andrew David Eargle. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday night at McSwain-Evans Funeral Home from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Philip’s Lutheran Church or the St. Philip’s Cemetery Association, 2461 St. Philip’s Church Road, Newberry, SC 29108 or to Hospice Care of South Carolina, PO Box 151, Drayton, SC 29333.

Active pallbearers will be AP Smith, Brandon Smith, Virgil Smith, Benji Harmon, Benji Vinson, Ed Branham, Vince Branham, and Bob Holcombe. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Adult B Sunday School Class, the Joy Fellowship, Roger Smith, Keith & Janet Fulmer, Richard & Frieda Koon. A special thank you to his Hospice Care of South Carolina Palliative team – Laura Maston, Andrea Williams, and Shannon Moody.

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