Quincy Ruffin

Quincy B. Ruffin, age 86, was a gentleman and a scholar – father, war hero, author, teacher, master mason and more importantly – a child of God.

He was born to Ophelia Davis Ruffin and William E. Payne in Collinsville, MS on July 22, 1929 and reared by his step-parents Eli Ruffin and Earline Ruffin.

His parents preceded him in death, along with his wife Lois A. Ruffin, son Quincy R. Ruffin, siblings Rosa Ruffin, Rita Mae Ruffin Merrifield, Gladys “Marie” Payne, Jimmy Lee Ruffin and David Eli Ruffin and granddaughter Erica R. Ruffin (daughter of Eric and Marla),

As a teenager, he sang with the The Spiritual Trying Four with his brother Jimmy who eventually became a national recording artist, along with their brother David, former lead singer of the Temptations.

Quincy volunteered for the U.S. Army and fought in the Korean Conflict. He served in Wiesbaden and Frankfurt, Germany. While in the military, he won more than 23 boxing matches as a welterweight.

He returned stateside to Washington, DC where he worked at the U.S. Pentagon and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

in 1955, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior at Bibleway Church Worldwide, in DC.

Sgt. Ruffin and his family were then transferred overseas to Augsburg, Germany. He was fluent in German and spoke several languages.

He became a Green Beret (Special Forces) and relocated to Fort Bragg, NC – serving in Vietnam. He was a medical instructor at the John F. Kennedy School for Special Warfare in Fort Bragg. Hewas also a medic, nurse, ranger, paratrooper and parachute drill sergeant.
In 1967, his wife of 12 years, died and he became a single father of four children. After serving his country for 22 years, Master Sergeant Ruffin, a was Honorably Discharged.

He earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Cincinnati, a Master’s degree in Criminology, Counseling and Corrections from Xavier University and an Honorary Doctorate from the NationalTheological Seminary in St. Louis, MO.
He was a social worker, social studies teacher at Princeton High School, and a Hamilton County Juvenile Court Referee for Woodlawn and Lincoln Heights. He impacted the lives of many young people.

Active in his community, he was Co-Founder of the Woodlawn Democratic Club and served on the Woodlawn Recreation Commission. He joined Mt. Zion Baptist where he sang in the Allegro Choir and drove the church bus.

He received his 50-year pin from the Prince Hall Free & Accepted Masons. In addition to his role as a 33rd degree Mason, he was also a Shriner. He wasPast Worshipful Master of Wesley-SmithLodge #107 in Cincinnati, where he was an active leader of the Pythagoreans. He was also supervisor of the Grand Master Southern District Order of Pythagoreans.

After relocating to Orlando, FL, he also served as Past Worshipful Master of the Lake Hall Lodge in Winter Park. He was the Florida State Coordinator for the Assault on Illiteracy Process (AOIP).

He wrote Mississippi Tears, a compilation of poems and essays chronicling his life growing up in rural Mississippi. His book has been featured in The Orlando Sentinel, the Cincinnati Enquirer and on Unsung – the Untold Story of David Ruffin.

A few years ago, he returned to Cincinnati for health reasons and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his companion of 35 years, Sarah Dutch; three children, Veanise Regina Ruffin Moore (Russell), Inga Ione Ruffin Calloway (Ernest) of Columbus, OH and Eric Ricardo Ruffin (Marla); seven grandchildren; Jennifer Moore, Victor Moore, Sophia Calloway, Grace Calloway, Brianna Ruffin, Lisa Ruffin and Angela Ruffin; aunts and uncle: Marcielean White of Harrisburg, PA; Clemmieteen Hampton of Collinsville, MS, and Betty Jean Byrd of Tucker, GA, and Willie C. Davis of Collinsville, MS and a myriad of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.