Toft Funeral Home and Crematory
2001 Columbus Ave
Sandusky, OH 44870
Phone: 419-625-8816
Website: http://www.toftfh.com
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Queen Ester (Smith) Ruffin, 82, of Sandusky, transitioned to glory on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 in Parkvue HealthCare Center.
Queen was born on December 14, 1931 in Columbus, Miss. to the union of the late John Smith, Sr. and the late Rebecca Jane (Pippin) Smith.
Queen and her husband, the late Major Ruffin, Jr., moved to the Sandusky area in 1952. She was a licensed beautician, and after ceasing to do hair, she held numerous positions in Erie County. She was employed by Sandusky Folding Box, Firelands Hospital, Erie-Huron CAC, and Goodwill Industries. She also enjoyed working for the Ruta families at their various motels.
Queen loved the Lord, her church, gospel music, reading her bible, traveling, and cooking her "famous peach cobbler" for friends and family. She especially enjoyed going on shopping excursions with her beloved sister, Rebecca.
Queen leaves to cherish her memory, her children, Major (Kriste) Ruffin, Minni (Eugene) Westbrook, Jackie Ruffin, Renee Ruffin, and Tyrell Wright, all of Sandusky, and Joyce (Robert) Barnes, of Cleveland, Ohio; 19 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; five sisters, Rebecca Pace, of Sandusky, Sallie Daniels, of Columbus, Miss., Teresa Smith and Angelic Hairston, of Oklahoma City, OK, and Mattie (Robert) Smith, of Memphis, TN; four brothers, Charlie (Annie Ruth), Joe, and Robert Smith, Sr., all of Columbus, Miss., and Mack (Brenda) Smith, of Cleveland, Miss.; sisters-in-law, Mintha "Honey" Smith, Jutta Smith, Minnie Ruffin, Catherine Ruffin, and Elizabeth Ruffin; special friend, Paula Koonce, and numerous nephews, nieces, and other relatives across the country.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sons, Mustafa (Nadiyah) Malik and Frison (Linda) Ruffin; one daughter, Beverly (Barry, Sr.) Williams; five brothers, John Smith, Jr., Richard, Willie "Sarge", Tyrone, and Roosevelt "Buddy" Smith; and three grandsons, Steven, Demetrius, and James Ruffin.
Friends may call from 10 A.M. until time of Home Going Services at 12 P.M. Noon, Monday, March 24, 2014 at Emmanuel Temple Church, 128 E. Adams St., Sandusky. Bishop Rufus G.W. Sanders will officiate. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in Queen's name to Juvenile Diabetes Northeast Ohio Chapter, 6100 Rockside Woods Suite 445, Independence, OH 44131, or to Alzheimer's Support Group, P.O. Box 2476, Sandusky, OH 44870. Toft Funeral Home & Crematory, 2001 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, is handling arrangements. Condolences and gifts of sympathy may be made to Queen's family by visiting www.toftfh.com.
