Barbara Lu Ruffing Brandenberg

1940 - 2015

Barbara Lu Ruffing Brandenberg, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015, while residing at Colonial Gardens. She was born on June 14, 1940, in Belleville, Ill., to Carl and Clarice Viehmann Ruffing. Barbara began her lifelong love for horses there as a child and continued riding, showing and breeding them very successfully almost to the end of her life. She raised several AQHA and world champions, and was well known in the upper echelons of the quarter horse industry. Her father owned and ran a bakery where Barby worked as a youngster, becoming a world-class baker and chef, talents she shared with close friends for many years hosting gourmet dinners with one-of-a-kind culinary creations paired with fine wines and her signature desserts. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in microbiology and was working in the laboratory at Scott AFB Hospital where she met Karl, who was an Air Force flight surgeon; they were married on July 1, 1963. Their son, Brock, now an engineer from Texas A&M, was born in 1966 in Columbus, Ohio, while Karl was a resident in ophthalmology at Ohio State. Barby and Karl moved from the West side of Fort Worth to Cresson and built a home and working ranch on 300 acres, raising quarter horses, miniature donkeys, Dobermans, Whippets, and countless Jack Russell Terriers. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's disease struck a few years ago and all of her activities were gradually curtailed. Barbara was preceded in death by both parents and her cousin, Russell Viehmann. Survivors: She is survived by her husband of 52 years; their son, Brock and his wife, Diana; grandsons, Max and Charlie; along with many wonderful friends. Her ashes will be scattered on the graves of her favorite horses and dogs. There may be a private wake at an undisclosed future date. If you desire, please make a donation in her name to the Humane Society of North Texas.