Event Date : Wednesday, March 15, 1978
Event Type : Death
Municipality :
Community : Other - Bradford
Street :
Lot :
Concession : 0
Description : Bill Ruffett, Bell Ewart's oldest resident, died March 15 at the age of 93.A popular and familiar figure in the community, Ruffett was a member of the Orange Lodge, the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Masonic Minerva Lodge.Services were held for him at each of these three organizations and at the Jennett Funeral Home. Funeral service was conducted by Rev. George James of Lefroy-Stroud United Church on March 18. He leaves his wife Susan (Hardy) Ruffett, five children (two predeceased), 20 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.Six of his grandsons were pallbearers: Steven Ruffett of Owen Sound, Jim Ruffett of Wiarton, Bob Ruffett of Ottawa, Bill Ruffett of Toronto, Dennis Squibb of Kapuskasing, and Doug Squibb of Cookstown.He was buried at the 6th Line Cemetery in Innisfil.He will be greatly missed. He had a wonderful sense of humour, and would recite poems at a moment's notice.He worked for four Bell Ewart ice companies from 1910 to 1930.After refrigerators became popular, he took up carpentry and built many of the cottages in this area.He finally retired at age 80, but kept busy building bird houses, many of which he donated to local service clubs.At the request of his family, donations were made to Ruffett's church, the Bell Ewart
Community Baptist Church.He was also an active member of the Bell Ewart Senior Citizens Club.He and his wife Susan celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary last November 29.(Lefroy Bell Ewart News)