Services will be Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at the L. E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home for Mrs. Patricia Arlene Coleman Ruffin, who departed this life on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at the Ohio State University Hospital East in Columbus, Ohio.

Mrs. Ruffin was born in Youngstown, Ohio on December 17, 1939, the daughter of Victor and Lucy Coleman.  Patricia was a 1957 graduate of East High School.  She spent 27 years with the Youngstown City Schools as a library paraprofessional at Choffin Career Center.

Patricia married Clifton Lewis Ruffin, Sr. on June 6, 1959 to which four children were born, Clifton Jr, Milton, Tony and Karella.

She spent over 30 years as a member of the Friendly Club, a social club of some of her closest friends. She held several positions in the club as President, Vice-President and Secretary . Upon her move to Columbus, she became a member of New Salem Baptist Church and attended regularly until her health began to fail. While at New Salem, she participated in the Weekend Food Program that provides supplemental meals for students at East Linden Elementary School. She was a former member of Rising Star Baptist Church in Youngstown where she was very active serving on the women’s conference committee, as an Awana Leader and a member of the kitchen staff.  She served faithfully until her move to Columbus.  In her spare time, she loved to cook, travel and read. Her favorite post retirement position was “Grandma in the classroom” within the Youngstown City Schools in which she helped children learn to read. She spent the later of her years socializing with her new neighbors within the Corban Commons Community and hanging out with her grandchildren.

She leaves to mourn her death her sons, Milton (Merlyn) Ruffin and Anthony Ruffin both of Columbus, Ohio; sister, Anita of Poincina, FL; eight grandchildren, Nakia (Sean) Miller of Strongsville, Nia Allen of Los Angeles, CA, TaNeishia Traylor, Torrie Ruffin, Kayla Ruffin, Onnashai Ruffin, Jaime Herod and Isaiah Herod all of Columbus, Ohio; two great-grandchildren, Rubin and Nakiyah Traylor of Columbus, Ohio; cousins, Dorothy Carter of Las Vegas, NV and Margie Ewell of Washington, DC and a host of nieces, nephews and close friends.

She is proceeded in death by her parents; husband, Clifton L Ruffin, Sr; son, Clifton E Ruffin Jr.;  and daughter Karella Herod.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. at the funeral  home.