W. Ruffin

Walter Nelson Ruffin, Sr.,92, a lifelong resident of Petersburg, passed away on March 8, 2005, after a period of declining health. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sarah Marriott and Reuben Raymond Ruffin, five brothers and sisters and his wife of 60 years, Rose Crichton Ruffin. He is survived by a daughter, Rebecca, and her husband, Donald N. Collins of Springfield, Virginia; a son, W. Nelson Ruffin, Jr. of Richmond, Virginia; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and his faithful feline companion, Sheba. At age 19, during the great depression, Mr. Ruffin enlisted in the Army and served as a member of Company B, 27th Infantry at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii from 1931 to 1934. Returning to civilian life in 1934, he entered the insurance business and devoted much of his time to the civic and political affairs of the city, as well as to his church. He was a former member of the Chamber of Commerce, a charter member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, as well as its past president, and in 1941, received the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award as the outstanding young man of the city. Mr. Ruffin again served in the Army during World War II and was released from the service as a 2nd Lieutenant when the war ended. He was elected as a member during the first City Council election in 1946 and he was approached by a group of young men and asked to be a candidate. They formed a group of 12 members to conduct a campaign for ?a more progressive Petersburg.? He won the election and was chosen by the City Council as Vice Mayor. His term on the City Council saw major platform goals realized; a new hospital; the first comprehensive zoning ordinance and zoning commission; the first planning commission; and a comprehensive study of the city needs by Seago Associated, a consulting firm. The 12 men who formed his campaign committee continued as advisors and jokingly adopted the title of ?The Dirty Dozen.? They continued to seek qualified candidates for public office into the 1950s and 1960s. Mr. Ruffin retired from business at age 70 but continued his interest in city government by regular attendance at City Council meetings for a number of year as an interested citizen, participating in open discussions and writing to the newspaper on various issues. He was an active member of Second Baptist Church for many years and former chairman of the finance committee. The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 am Monday, March 14, 2005 at Second Baptist Church, 3355 Johnson Road, Petersburg, VA 23805 with the Rev. Dr. Joseph T. Lewis officiating. Interment will be in Blandford Cemetery following the service. The family will receive friends from 3-5 pm Sunday at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home and Cremation Service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Second Baptist Church. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .