Joseph Frank

Ruff Sr., 92

TEMPLEVILLE, Md. - Joseph Frank Ruff Sr. of Templeville, Md. died Tuesday, May 29, 2007, in Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill, Smyrna. He was 92.

He was born Sept. 1, 1914, in Garfield, N.J. to the late John and Rose Ritz Ruff.

He moved to Templeville, Md. in 1928 from Garfield, N.J.

Mr. Ruff worked as a steel worker, carpenter and he farmed.

He was an assembler in the textile industry for Bancroft Brothers in Wilmington, when he retired in 1967.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred E. Ruff on Nov. 23, 1990; his brother, John Ruff; his sister, Gloria Thomas; a grandson, William Ruff in 1983; and a granddaughter Ashley Starkey in 2006.

He is survived by his five children, Joe Ruff Jr. and his wife, Frances of Marydel, Md., Betty J. Richard and her husband, Jim of Dover, William "Billy" Ruff and his wife, Linda of Royal Oak, Md., Barbara Lemin and her husband, Orin of Andrews, N.C. and John "Jack" Ruff and his wife, Penny of Federalsburg, Md.; two brothers, Frank Ruff and his wife, Sylvia of Sudlersville, Md. and George Ruff of Blades; 13 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren and several nieces & nephews.

Services will be Friday at 11 a.m. in Fleegle and Helfenbein Funeral Home, Greensboro, Md., where friends may call one hour prior to service.

Interment will be in Templeville Cemetery,Templeville, Md.

Memorial contributions may be given to Vitas Hospice Care, 100 Commerce Drive, Suite 302, Newark, DE 19713.