Ruffridge, Norman Sylvester 1919-2002

RUFFRIDGE, BARTH, ANDERSON

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 8/7/2005 at 15:39:31

Norman Sylvester Ruffridge, 83, of 114 E. 10th St. in Pella died Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002, at the VA Medical Center in Knoxville.

He was born Feb. 7, 1919, in Decorah to Frank and Cora Barth Ruffridge. He attended Decorah High School and, as a boy, began working at the Hotvedt Butcher Shop.

In November 1940, he enlisted in the Armed Services. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a Pearl Harbor survivor. He was discharged in January 1947.

He married Neoma Marie Anderson on May 30, 1948, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. He managed the Veterans of Foreign Wars Club in Decorah, then moved to Moline, Ill., where he worked at the arsenal and for Illinois Gas and Electric. The couple returned to Decorah in 1959, and Norm did construction work. They then moved to Pella, building and A&W restaurant, which they operated from 1961-97.

The couple spent their winters in Arizona for 20 years until Norm was admitted to the Veterans Administration Medical Center in May 2000.

He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Pella, the Pearl Harbor Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Van Veen-Van Hemert American Legion Post No. 89 of Pella and Pella Golf and Country Club. He enjoyed playing cards, golfing and traveling.

He is survived by his wife, Neoma; two children, Rhonda and her husband Jaime Perez of Dover, Pa., and Rodney Ruffridge of Otley; two sisters and a brother, Fern Dungey of New Hampton, Palmer Ruffridge and his wife Arla of Decorah and Virginia Nelson and her husband Eldon of Portage, Wis.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Harriet Brom; and three brothers, Orville, Curtis and Gordon Ruffridge.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Peace Lutheran Church in Pella, the Rev. Kim Wills officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Pella. Visitation is open today at the funeral home. The family will be present from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Memorials may be made to Peace Lutheran Church in Pella or the Crime Prevention Program of the Pella Police Department.

The Oskaloosa Herald, September 25, 2002