Phillip A. Ruffner

Phillip A. Ruffner, 88, of Brookville, PA, passed away during the evening hours of Saturday, August 7, 2021, while a patient at Penn Highlands DuBois Hospital in DuBois, PA. He was born on April 27, 1933, in Warsaw Twp., PA. He graduated from Brockway High School with the class of 1951. Phillip married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Katherine "Kay" on June 14, 1952, at the Sugar Hill Presbyterian Church. He went on to attend Penn State University and Clarion State Teachers College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education. He furthered his education by earning his Master's Degree in English at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He used his education to teach young minds at Brookville High School and as a professor at IUP, from where he retired. He was an elder and trustee at the Brookville Presbyterian Church. He was a trainer of champion beagles and a member of the Beartown Beagle Club.  He was an avid hunter and was published in the PA Game News Magazine. Phillip loved gardening and was proud to be awarded Brookville's Gardener of the Month. He was a very active man and was a regular runner. He was an excellent singer and partnered with his wife and her piano playing to perform at weddings in his younger years. He loved sports, especially the Pittsburgh Steelers and coached several little league baseball teams. Above all else, Phillip was a huge advocate for education and showed this in his many years as an educator. Phillip is survived by five children; Stan (Debra) Ruffner; Cindy (Marty) Zidek; Barbara (Roger) Fitzgerald; Paul (Theresa) Ruffner; Patti Susko; one brother; Les (Kaye) Ruffner; eleven grandchildren; and sixteen great grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Phillip was preceded in passing by his wife, Kay; and one sister; Jean Peterson. Family and friends will be received on Saturday, August 14, 2021, from 1pm to 4pm at the McKinney – d'Argy Funeral Home, 345 Main Street, Brookville, PA 15825. A funeral service will take place immediately following the viewing beginning at 4pm and officiated by Dr. Stanley Bhasker. Interment will take place at St. John's (Windy Hill) Cemetery, Rose Twp., Jefferson Co., PA. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Brookville Presbyterian Church, 100 S White St., Brookville, PA 15825, or to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital by visiting www.stjude.org/donate. Online condolences and other information may be found by visiting www.mckinneydargy.com