Chester D. Ruff

WASHINGTON?Chester D. Ruff, 83, of Washington, passed away at 8:25 a.m., Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at Methodist Medical Center in Peoria. Chester was born on February 11, 1930 in Whits Springs, Arkansas to Garland and Thelma (Fowlkes) Ruff. He celebrated more than 57 years of marriage to Orvilla Ullom Ruff, whom he married on July 1, 1956 in Harrison, Arkansas. Among those surviving is his loving wife, Orvilla; his three children, Paula (Robert, Jr.) Persinger of Sioux City, Iowa, Karl (Lori) Ruff of Washington and Michelle (Victor) Johnson of Bartonville; six loving grandchildren, Charles Armstrong, Stephen Armstrong, Troy Ruff, Kaili Ruff, Branden Johnson and Victoria Johnson; one great granddaughter, Ayumi Armstrong and one brother, Pastor Dane (Marylynn) Ruff of Scranton, Arkansas. He is also survived by many special nieces and nephews. Chester was also preceded in death by five siblings, Tressie Mount, Troy Ruff, Bill Ruff, Sue Litchfield and Betty Ruff. Chester was a proud veteran of the Korean War where he had served in the U.S. Navy. Part of his tour of service involved being the personal driver for Admiral Rogers of the Atlantic Fleet. After his service in the Navy, Chester went to work for Caterpillar where he retired after 36 years of service. He had worked in Building LL and did machine repair for Caterpillar. He was a charter member of the Beverly Manor Missionary Baptist Church where he had served on the mission committee for many years and a Sunday School teacher for twenty years. Chester loved his family and was said to have been an important part of raising many more kids than just the three of he and Orvilla. His favorite expression was "I reckin?". In his spare time Chester loved the outdoors, especially deer hunting. If that did not work out, fishing, wood carving, making jewelry or just being a master carpenter would fill his time. A service to celebrate Chester will be held on Friday, September 27, 2013 at Beverly Manor Missionary Baptist Church at 10 a.m. with Pastor Mike McCoskey and Pastor Dane Ruff officiating. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Memory Gardens, south of Washington. Visitation for Chester will be on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mason-White Funeral Home in Washington and one hour prior to services on Friday at the church. Memorials for Chester may be directed to the church?s mission fund. Online condolences to the family may be made at masonfuneralhomes.com