Mr.Ruffin Winfield Price, Sr., 98, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Father’s Day, June 20, 2021.
Ruffin was born September 25, 1922 to the late Samuel Wingfield and Addie Satterwhite Price. In 1942, he married the love of his life, Ruby Jenkins, and was married for 79 years. He was a proud veteran of World War II serving from 1944 to 1946. He served a tour of duty in the Philippines for 12 months giving him many memories and stories to share with his children and friends.
Ruffin loved the Lord and his Church. He was a faithful member of St. Paul Holiness Church for over 75 years. He was ordained as a deacon in 1955 and served as Co-Chair of the Deacon Board for many years. He also served as the Church Clerk for 40 plus years. Ruffin spearheaded many of the church projects including the building of the new edifice.
Prior to entering the military, he worked at the Newport News Ship Building in Newport News, Va. After his honorary discharge from the U.S. Army, he became one of the biggest Black Farmers in Surry County. He farmed from 1946-1989. During the spring of the year, he would get a twinkle in his eyes as he planted his crops and watched them grow. He was one of the founders of the original Surry Famers Market and proudly sold his produce on the parking lot at the Surry Courthouse. After retirement from farming, he worked for the Virginia Department of Transportation at the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry.
Ruffin was a lifelong learner before the term became popular. He would read the newspaper daily from the front to back, watched the nightly news and would always share tidbits of information that were both timely and thought provoking with his family and anyone who would listen. After purchasing a set of Britannica Encyclopedias, he added the encyclopedias to his daily reading list. He valued the power of education and instilled his love of learning to all his children making sure they were all educated and prepared for the world of work. He loved to travel and would research the places before the trip. Before GPS, Ruffin would spread the map on the kitchen table and map out the trip with complete accuracy. Some of his famous sayings were “Greaaaat Day,” “What does the Bible say about it?” Also, when talking about what to wear, he would say, “If you put it together, it goes together.”
Ruffin was predeceased by his parents, his brother Ralph Price, and Clarence Price, his sisters, Alberta Hardy and Evelyn Reeves, his beloved grandson, Wardell Price, Jr. and his beloved granddaughter, Sherri Holmes Nixon (his Sherri Berry Bee).
He leaves to cherish his loving memories, his devoted wife of 79 years, Ruby E. Price, six sons and four daughters, Harold Ruffin (Vivian), Perry Lee (Patricia), Wardell Jerome, Rita Eloise (Calvin), Linda Joan (Rev. George), Garry Wayne (Linda) Faye Denise (Benjamin), Glenn Roy (Deborah), Ruffin Winfield, Jr. (Karen), Shonda Ruby (Bryon) and adopted daughter, Gloristine Evins, 26 grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren, and 6 great, great grandchildren, one brother-in-law, William Hardy. He also leaves a host of special nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.
Ruffin will be greatly missed, and his legacy will continue through his big family.