Rufus Ruark

William Rufus Ruark

William Rufus Ruark, age 82, of East New Market, Maryland was surrounded by his loving family when he died Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at Dorchester General Hospital.

Born on September 22, 1928 at Bishops Head, Maryland, he was the son of the late Ashland A. Ruark and Rosa Jane “Janie” Parks Ruark Bloodsworth. Rufus was raised in Bishops Head until he enlisted in the United States Army in January of 1948. During his enlistment Rufus served in the Korean War as a paratrooper in an Airborne Regimental Combat Unit.

On January 21, 1959 he married the former Peggy Laverne Dayton.

Throughout his life Rufus not only served in the United States Army, but also worked for many years in the seafood industry. He was owner and operator of Ruark’s Bar and since his retirement he worked delivering local blue crabs along the Mid-Atlantic Coast. Rufus was a member of The American Legion Post #91 and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7460.

Rufus was well known for his zest for life, one-liners, storytelling, positive outlook, kindness and whistling. After his retirement from the bar business, Rufus devoted his life to all members of his family.

Surviving besides his wife Peggy of 52 years are three sons William Rufus “Rocky” Ruark, Jr. of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Mark Ruark and wife Rhonda of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, from a previous marriage to the late Lucille Ruark; and Jeff Ruark and wife Michelle of East New Market, MD; a daughter Charlene Ruark Edwards of Cambridge, MD; a step-daughter Debbie Knauer Hardy of Cambridge, MD; two sisters Zadith Ruark Griffith Cooke and her husband John of Annapolis, MD and twin Julia Ruark Reinke Utz of Salisbury, MD; a half-sister Arlene Ruark Harper; a half-brother William Ruark; seven grandchildren Justin Edwards and wife Brittany, Tyler Edwards, Grant Ruark, Garrett Ruark, Jay Ruark, Nicholas Ruark, and Nathan Ruark; a step-granddaughter Christy Cooke; a step-great-grandson Trey Watson; and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Ruark was preceded in death by his parents and a nephew, Glen Griffith.

Rufus was cremated. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to Noon on Monday, September 26th, at Curran-Bromwell Funeral Home, P.A., Cambridge, where the service will begin at Noon. Officiating at the service will be Mr. Steve Bloodsworth. Military Honors and Inurnment will follow at the Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery, Hurlock, MD.

Pallbearers will be Tom Reinke, Jay Reinke, Justin Edwards, and Tyler Edwards. Honorary pallbearers will be Jay Ruark, Grant Ruark, Garrett Ruark, Nicholas Ruark and Nathan Ruark.

Expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial offerings in Mr. Rufus Ruark’s name may be made to either to the American Diabetes Association, P. O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312 or www.diabetes.org/site/donation or to the Veterans Recognition Committee, P.O. Box 143, Cambridge, MD.

To view online condolences, please visit www.curran-bromwell.com