Ralph C. Ruffer, 68 years, of Ney, passed away suddenly on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at Toledo Hospital, after suffering a medical emergency while umpiring a Division 2 Baseball Tournament game at Patrick Henry.
Ralph was born January 8, 1949 in Wauseon, Ohio the son of the late Robert D. and Bernice A. Rohrbaugh.
He was a 1967 graduate of Stryker High School. He then attended Defiance College where he played basketball and baseball. He graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in 1972. He married Cathy DeGroff on April 29, 1972 in Stryker, and she survives. Ralph was a well known and respected teacher and coach, starting in the Stryker Local Schools where he taught from 1972 until moving to Central Local School District where he taught and coached from 1978 to 2002. After this he became a scout for Defiance College’s boys basketball team, where he also coached. He was also an Ohio High School Athletic Association Umpire for 21 years. Ralph and his wife Cathy are members at Farmer United Methodist Church. He was also a member of Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association. In his free time, he enjoyed golfing, fishing, and spending time with his grandchildren and family.
Surviving is his wife, Cathy of Ney; two sons, Josh (Dawn) Ruffer of Lyons, Ohio and Mook (Courtney) Ruffer of Bryan; four grandchildren, Bradyn Ruffer, Reese, Molly and Morgan Ruffer; two sisters, Colleen (Carl) Henry of Stryker, and Cindy Ruffer of Norwalk, Ohio, and two brothers, Roger (Connie) Ruffer of Hartland, Michigan, and Rickie (Cindy) Ruffer of Stryker, Ohio. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; one nephew, Matt Ruffer, and one niece, Katie Ruffer.
Visitation for Ralph C. Ruffer will be held Tuesday, May 23, 2017 from 1:00-8:00 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 903 Center Street, Bryan, Ohio 43506. Memorial Services will be held Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at Fairview High School, 06289 US Highway 127, Sherwood, Ohio 43556 with Rev. Ron Adkins II and Rev. Dwight Bowers officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the memorial service at the school on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 beginning at 6:00 p.m. Interment will be held Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in Ney Cemetery, Ney, Ohio.
Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider memorial donations be given to Farmer United Methodist Church, 09926 State Route 249, Farmer, Ohio 43520 or Fairview Schools Fund, checks payable to Defiance Area Foundation.
You can send your condolences or share your memories with the family by visiting Ralph’s obituary page at www.oberlinturnbull.com