Anthony "Butch" John Ruffino

Known to his wife, Donna, and many friends as “Tony” and his sister and cousins as “Butch”, he began his adventurous life on August 5, 1944 in Houston, Texas. Preceding him in death were his parents, John Thomas and Barbara Aline Ruffino.

Tony graduated from Dulles High School in Houston in 1962 and soon enlisted in the United States Air Force. After traveling to many places, including North Africa, Malaysia, and England, and duty stations around the United States, Tony retired with the rank of Master Sergeant in 1983.

After the Air Force, Tony worked for E-Systems and then Raytheon in Garland, Texas and ending that second career in Alice Springs, Australia. He retired with his wife Donna to Foresthill, California, and then settled in Pflugerville, Texas to be near his grandchildren.

Tony enjoyed woodworking and he was an avid movie buff. He enjoyed playing card games with his family and grandkids. He also enjoyed barbeques with friends and family. Tony and Donna enjoyed two cruises, one to Alaska and another to the South Pacific Islands, including Fiji.

His one regret was to have never travelled to Italy to explore his Italian heritage.

Survived by the love of his life, Donna (Poppino), who Tony met and married in Sacramento, California while stationed there in 1968; son, Clayton (Niki); another son Christopher all of Pflugerville, Texas; grandchildren, Kylie and Chase; and sister Marilyn (Pete) Coburn of Alvin, Texas.

His family is deeply grateful for the caring, professional care from doctors and nurses in the Intensive Care Unit at Seton Medical Center Williamson County and at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas for the beginning of his leukemia treatment.

Services to honor his life and service to his country will be held at 1:15 p.m. on Monday, September 9th, 2013 at the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive in Houston, Texas 77038.

To share condolences, please visit www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com