Lucille A. Ruffer Murphy

Lucille A. Ruffer Murphy VISTA -- Memorial services for Lucille A. Ruffer Murphy, 95, a Vista resident since 1968 and a Navy veteran of World War II, will be at 1 p.m., Monday, November 15 at Faith Lutheran Church, 700 E. Bobier Drive, Vista, of which she was a member, with a reception there following. Inurnment will be at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego. She died Monday, October 25, 2010. She was born November 24, 1914 to Cleo R. "Poodle" and Maletta "Lydia" Schlueter Ruffer in Ridgeville Corners, Ohio. She was a 1932 graduate of Ridgeville High School and a 1936 graduate of Fort Wayne (Ind.) Lutheran Hospital Nursing School. A registered nurse, she worked at Detweiler Hospital, Wauseon, Ohio, for six years before enlisting in the Navy in 1942. During her 20-year military career, she served at Naval hospitals in Newfoundland, Bethesda, Md., San Francisco, Camp Pendleton, San Diego and Boston before retiring from Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois in 1962 as a Lieutenant Commander. She was nurse to the WAVES who worked on circuitry for the atomic bomb at NCR Co. in Dayton, Ohio during World War II. Mrs. Murphy was a member of Vista Women's Club and Lutheran Women's Missionary League. She married George Francis Murphy of South Dakota on January 22, 1953, at Camp Pendleton. Avid bridge players, the couple were Life Masters with the American Contract Bridge League. Mr. Murphy died January 16, 2004, in Vista. In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Murphy was preceded in death by sister, Lois J. Travis; and brother, Donnell C. Ruffer. Survivors include sisters, Lillian E. Walter of Rochester, Ind., and Mary L. Hesterman of Fort Wayne; nephew and caregiver, Brad E. Walter of Vista; caregivers, great-nephew Christopher A. Walter and Alegria Q. Wong, both of Vista; and many nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to: Faith Lutheran Church, 700 E. Bobier Drive, Vista, Calif. 92084, or to Hospice by the Sea, 312 S. Cedros Ave., Suite 250, Solana Beach, Calif. 92075. Sign the Guest Book online obits.nctimes.com