Ruffner, Norman Stuart

Norman Stuart Ruffner quietly passed away after 79 
vibrant and inspiring years a few months shy of his 80th 
birthday. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1930 to 
Ruth and Everett Ruffner. As Norm became an adult, he 
spent eight years with the U.S. Air Force. Norm moved to 
Tacoma in 1949 where he met his wife to be, Marilyn 
Letourneau. They had been wed an amazing 60 years. 
After his service with the Air Force, Norm took a job with 
Darigold Farms and worked for them for 32 dedicated 
and loyal years. The "milkman" leaves behind his sister 
Joan Reid of Columbus, Ohio, his loving wife Marilyn, 10 
children: Norma (Jon), Micheal, Patrick (Vicki), Mark, 
Jeffrey (Julie), Dana, Kelly, Scott (Janice), Christopher, and 
Steven (Beth), 14 grandchildren, and 6 great-
grandchildren. After being an only son, Norm made 
certain that his Ruffner name would carry on for 
generations and generations to come. Our Pops was a 
unique man, and one who shared many joys and passions 
in life. He was a huge supporter of Tacoma soccer and 
was a Seattle Sounders season ticket holder. He loved to 
take us fishing and out for putt-putt golf at Parkland 
Putters. He supported all the local sports teams; baseball 
games at Cheney Stadium and basketball games at the 
UPS Fieldhouse, and attending all his kids' assorted 
soccer, baseball, and basketball games while growing up. 
Summers meant jaunts to the Spanaway Speedway for 
auto racing, an old station wagon crammed full of kids at 
the drive-in movie theater, cross country vacation 
adventures in the same old station wagon (flashbacks to 
Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Vacation movie), 
and our annual pilgrimage to the Puyallup Indian 
Reservation for illegal fireworks to celebrate 
Independence Day (mom is not supposed to know about 
that). He fancied himself an acclaimed card and poker 
player and enjoyed a cold beer when he played. It would 
also be unfair to not mention our Pops absolute love of 
good food. Hats off to you mom for making him so 
happy, so well taken care of, and keeping him oh so well 
fed. Cheers to you, Pops. Best of luck and all our love as 
you begin the next chapter of your incredible journey. 
May you always catch the limit when you fish and land 
that elusive lunker, shoot even par whenever you golf, 
may the buffet always be enticing and plentiful, may you 
draw the inside straight flush to win the stash of chips, 
and may the home team always win the big game. Thank 
you for everything you have given us, and for everything 
you have done for us. You will be missed, but you will 
never, never be forgotten. Memorial service will be held 
at 1:30pm on Friday, April 23rd at the Tahoma National 
Cemetery in Kent, WA. Donations in Norman's honor can 
be made to Providence Hospice of Seattle.

Published in News Tribune (Tacoma) on April 11, 2010