Jean S. Ruff

Jean Sylvania Ruff, of Mardela Springs, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and 10-year cancer survivor, passed away in the early morning of Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional Hospital in Salisbury, surrounded by her loving family. She was 95 and a few weeks short of her 96th birthday.
Born in Stewartstown, Pennsylvania on April 26, 1927, she was a daughter of the late Harry and Mary (Manifold) Marsteller.
After high school, Jean attended Goldey Beacom College where she learned how to effectively own her own business. For many years she operated Jean's Canvas Shop in Mardela Springs, where she made various types of canvas coverings for large poultry companies like Perdue. She was a past member of Asbury UMC in Salisbury, Salisbury Moose Lodge #654, Salisbury Elks Lodge BPOE#817. Salisbury American Legion Post #64 and the Salisbury VFW Post #194. Jean loved life and saw every day as an opportunity to share a smile with someone else. She loved to dance, especially to country music and had a special place in her heart for dogs and many other animals.
She is survived by a son, Marcus Nathaniel "Butch" Ruff, III and wife Wanda; daughter, Pamela Levin and Robin Saylor and husband Hal; grandchildren, David Ruff, Deanna (Stanko) Ruff, Valerie Quinlivan, Alysha Pennington, Christopher Ruff, Michael Ruff, Michael Levin, Will Saylor and Marc Saylor; great grandchildren, Nora, Camryn, Jackson, Caroline, Ava, Evan, Emilia, Luca, Victor, Heidi and Ariel; and sisters, Edith Matthews and Janice Feldenberg.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Marcus Nathaniel Ruff, Jr., who passed in 2002; son, Michael L. Ruff, who passed in 2003; a sister Ruth who passed in 2003; and her brother John who passed in 2020.
Burial at Eastern Shore Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Hurlock will be private at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation by visiting https://t2t.org/donate/ or to the Folds of Honor Foundation by visiting https://foldsofhonor.org/squadron.
Arrangements are in the care of Short Funeral Home in Delmar. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.shortfh.com.