Rev William Ruff

A native of Paulding County, GA, Rev. Ruff was the son of the late William Fitzhugh “Sam” Ruff and Sidney Caroline Cochran Ruff and was preceded in death by a son, Dr. Boyd Ruff. He was a graduate of Dallas High School, attended West Georgia College, and graduated from Georgia State University. He received a Bachelor of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a Master of Divinity from Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. He received an honorary doctorate from the John Marshall School of Law in Atlanta.

After teaching school in Paulding and Cobb Counties and being principal of Mableton High School in Cobb County, Rev. Ruff entered the ministry. He served as an ordained minister in the North Georgia United Methodist Conference for 42 years serving at Elizabeth in Marietta, English Avenue in Atlanta, and Salem in Covington before ordination and Ousley, Thomaston First, and Marietta First afterwards. He was District Superintendent of the Athens-Elberton District and the Atlanta Emory District. As Director of the Conference Board of Pensions and New Church Development from 1977-1985, Rev. Ruff led the campaign to underwrite pensions for the conference and established many new congregations. He was a delegate to five Jurisdictional Conferences and four historic General Conferences, which voted to form the United Methodist Church and integrate the conferences. He led the delegation from North Georgia to General Conference in 1972 in Atlanta. After retiring to a farm near Bogart in 1985, spending time with his grandchildren was his special joy.

Survivors include his wife, Grace Boyd Ruff of Statham; son, Bill Ruff, Jr., and wife, Betty of Bogart, GA, daughters, Dianne Morrison and husband, Pat of Athens, GA, Carol Messina and husband, Bill of Franklin, NC, and Pam Perchik and husband, Joel of Jackson, TN; daughter-in-law, Deborah Ruff and husband Tom Saunders of Athens, GA; sister, Mary Austin of Acworth, GA; grandchildren, Rev. Meg Morrison, David Morrison (Sara), Andrew Morrison, Ben Morrison, Amanda Messina, Mike Messina (Toni), Britt Messina, Clint Messina, Chloe Ruff (Ross Miller), Carley Ruff, Will Ruff, Hank Ruff (Kedra), Elizabeth Ruff, Jordan Perchik, and Madison Perchik, and great-grandchildren, Liam Ruff-Miller, Conor Ruff-Miller, Charlotte Ruff-Miller, and Ava Morrison.

Following a private family burial, a memorial service will be held Tuesday, December 10, at 2:00 pm at Athens First United Methodist Church with Rev. Chuck Hodges, Rev. Dr. Bill Britt, Rev. Dr. Sam Matthews, and Rev. Meg Morrison officiating. The family will receive friends at a reception immediately following the service in Hancock Hall at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Athens First United Methodist Church, 327 N. Lumpkin St., Athens, GA 30601 or to the Oxford Historical Cemetery, 110 West Clark St, Oxford, GA 30054.

Online condolences may be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com

Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.