Kenneth Wayne Ruffin's Obituary
Kenneth Wayne Ruffin, 72, of Tulsa, Oklahoma passed away at home on March 8, 2016. Ken was born on November 23, 1943 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the oldest son of Beryl K. and Sibyl E. (Wood) Ruffin. He graduated from Edison High School in 1961, received his Bachelor’s Degree from Northeastern State College in 1966; and graduated from the University of Chicago School Respiratory Therapy in 1967. Ken was a retired employee of Saint Francis Hospital with 32 years of service. During the first 7 years he developed the department of Respiratory Therapy; established The Saint Francis Employees Federal Credit Union and worked with other local hospitals and Tulsa Junior College to establish a School of Respiratory Therapy. In 1976 was offered a new career as Employee Benefits Coordinator, to administer new Federal Benefits regulations. He was an active member of Asbury United Methodist Church, but also a long-time member of Brookside Baptist Church and kept in touch with those friends through the Brookside Breakfast Club. He was also an active and involved member of the longstanding, early morning coffee clutch at Ann’s Daylight Donut (61st & Sheridan). He was an avid golfer and his most memorable vacation was to Scotland where he played The British Open courses (including “The Old Course” at St. Andrews), He will always be remembered for his kind heart and “good Samaritan” traits, always offering help and giving of his time unselfishly to anyone in need. Ken was preceded in death by his parents Beryl and Sibyl Ruffin. He is survived by two daughters, Jana Horton , Tulsa, OK and Diana Ruffin, Conroe, TX; a brother and sister in law, Lynn and Kathy Ruffin, Broken Arrow, OK; a sister, Lois Nichols, Tomball, TX; two grandchildren,. Matthew Horton, Palo Alto, CA and Kylie Good, Owasso, OK; and extended family members that loved him dearly. A special thanks to Diana Ruffin, who took an extended leave of absence from her job to care for her Dad along with Saint Francis Hospice during his final days. A memorial service will be held at Asbury United Methodist Church on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. under the direction of Dr. Guy Ames. Family burial will precede this service at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens. Share memories/condolences at www.floralhaven.com.
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