James F. Ruffner

James F. Ruffner, 73, of Lebanon died Tuesday, June 28, 2016 in the M. S. Hershey Medical Center. He was the husband of Carol E. Mooney Ruffner to whom he was married 45 years. Born in Madera, Clearfield County, PA on May 18, 1943, he was the son of Elizabeth McCreadie Ruffner of Lebanon formerly of Madera and the late James E. Ruffner. He was the President and Owner of Taylor-Ruffner Funeral Home, Inc. on Chestnut Street in Lebanon. Jim was a graduate of Madera High School, attended Elizabethtown College, a graduate of Point Park College with a degree in microbiology, Pittsburgh, and the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. Following his graduation from Mortuary School, he worked as a funeral director for Slater Funeral Home in Pittsburgh before taking a job with Colgate-Palmolive Research in Piscataway, NJ during which time he also managed a McDonald’s Restaurant there. He then moved to Lebanon and worked for Taylor Funeral Home which he purchased in 1972. Jim was an entrepreneur as he also owned Dairy Quik, The Cookie Corner, Mobile Medics, Lebanon Alerts, F & R Rentables, and Ruffner Candle Co. all of Lebanon. He was a member of St. Mark’s United Church of Christ, Lebanon where he served as a Deacon and Elder on the church Consistory, a member of the choir and Him Singers. Jim also held memberships with Mt. Lebanon Lodge #226, F. & A.M., Harrisburg Consistory, O.E.S. Chapter #115, Lebanon, Halcyon Board of Directors, President of Lebanon High School Booster Club, First Aid and Safety Patrol, past President and member of the Lebanon Country Club, the Chemical, Friendship, and Hook and Ladder Fire Companies, Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association, Lebanon-Schuylkill Funeral Directors Association where he served as president and secretary/treasurer, Lebanon Kiwanis Club serving as secretary/treasurer and Lieutenant Governor, the Lebanon Travelers Protective Association serving as secretary/treasurer, as well as the State secretary/treasurer of TPA from who he recently received the National Merit Award. He was an avid golfer, bingo player, and loved playing Santa with his wife Carol for DDS, Halcyon, Kiwanis underprivileged children, and at TPA functions. Surviving in addition to his wife and mother are daughters Kimberly J. wife of David Edmondson of Colorado Springs, CO, Heather K. wife of Michael Daub of Myerstown, sons James Scot Ruffner and wife Kristy of Palm Springs, Florida, Troy E. Krall of Lititz, a sister Sally Singles, and 9 grandchildren Andrew and Taylor Rahalewich, Emma, Alissa, and Cole Edmondson, Ryan and Colin Daub, Riley and Addison Ruffner. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 11:00 AM at St. Mark’s UCC, 426 N. 8th Street, Lebanon, PA 17046. A viewing will be held on Friday evening from 6-8 PM at the Kreamer Funeral Home and Crematory, 618 E. Main Street, Annville and also on Saturday from 10-11 AM at the Church. A masonic service will be held on Friday evening at 5:45 PM prior to the viewing at the funeral home. Interment will be held at the convenience of the family in Alexander Cemetery, Madera, PA. Contributions may be made to St. Mark’s UCC or the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter #115, C/O Kathy Murphy, 200 W. McKinley Avenue, Myerstown, PA 17067 in his memory. James F. Ruffner, 73, of Lebanon died Tuesday, June 28, 2016 in the M. S. Hershey Medical Center. He was the husband of Carol E. Mooney Ruffner to whom he was married 45 years. Born in Madera, Clearfield County, PA on May 18, 1943, he was the son of Elizabeth McCreadie Ruffner of Lebanon formerly of Madera and the late James E. Ruffner. He was the President and Owner of Taylor-Ruffner Funeral Home, Inc. on Chestnut Street in Lebanon. Jim was a graduate of Madera High School, attended Elizabethtown College, a graduate of Point Park College with a degree in microbiology, Pittsburgh, and the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. Following his graduation from Mortuary School, he worked as a funeral director for Slater Funeral Home in Pittsburgh before taking a job with Colgate-Palmolive Research in Piscataway, NJ during which time he also managed a McDonald’s Restaurant there. He then moved to Lebanon and worked for Taylor Funeral Home which he purchased in 1972. Jim was an entrepreneur as he also owned Dairy Quik, The Cookie Corner, Mobile Medics, Lebanon Alerts, F & R Rentables, and Ruffner Candle Co. all of Lebanon. He was a member of St. Mark’s United Church of Christ, Lebanon where he served as a Deacon and Elder on the church Consistory, a member of the choir and Him Singers. Jim also held memberships with Mt. Lebanon Lodge #226, F. & A.M., Harrisburg Consistory, O.E.S. Chapter #115, Lebanon, Halcyon Board of Directors, President of Lebanon High School Booster Club, First Aid and Safety Patrol, past President and member of the Lebanon Country Club, the Chemical, Friendship, and Hook and Ladder Fire Companies, Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association, Lebanon-Schuylkill Funeral Directors Association where he served as president and secretary/treasurer, Lebanon Kiwanis Club serving as secretary/treasurer and Lieutenant Governor, the Lebanon Travelers Protective Association serving as secretary/treasurer, as well as the State secretary/treasurer of TPA from who he recently received the National Merit Award. He was an avid golfer, bingo player, and loved playing Santa with his wife Carol for DDS, Halcyon, Kiwanis underprivileged children, and at TPA functions. Surviving in addition to his wife and mother are daughters Kimberly J. wife of David Edmondson of Colorado Springs, CO, Heather K. wife of Michael Daub of Myerstown, sons James Scot Ruffner and wife Kristy of Palm Springs, Florida, Troy E. Krall of Lititz, a sister Sally Singles, and 9 grandchildren Andrew and Taylor Rahalewich, Emma, Alissa, and Cole Edmondson, Ryan and Colin Daub, Riley and Addison Ruffner. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 11:00 AM at St. Mark’s UCC, 426 N. 8th Street, Lebanon, PA 17046. A viewing will be held on Friday evening from 6-8 PM at the Kreamer Funeral Home and Crematory, 618 E. Main Street, Annville and also on Saturday from 10-11 AM at the Church. A masonic service will be held on Friday evening at 5:45 PM prior to the viewing at the funeral home. Interment will be held at the convenience of the family in Alexander Cemetery, Madera, PA. Contributions may be made to St. Mark’s UCC or the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter #115, C/O Kathy Murphy, 200 W. McKinley Avenue, Myerstown, PA 17067 in his memory.

James F. Ruffner

May 18, 1943 - June 28, 2016