March 4th, 1930, Milton and Lucinda along with brother Floyd and Clifford welcomed a baby boy named Merlin Kenneth Ruffin into the world.
He received his education in Point Deluce school and graduated in 1948. After graduation he went to work for AP&L as a pole lineman but never liked climbing poles so he then enlisted into the Air Force in 1952. He served in Okinawa for two years. And also received two medals, the Korean Service Medal and the US Service Medal. He returned home and moved to Stuttgart in spring of 1954 to work for Eric LeBrock as a motor rewinder. In 1973 he left Lebrock and opened his own business with his buddy JB Starks they named it R&S Electric. Motor rewinding was his passion. He retired at the age of 90 in 2020 due to health issues.
Merlin was a longtime member and deacon of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Stuttgart, Arkansas. He also loved going to church camp and youth rallies. Even stayed in the dorm with the youngins often thinking he was one of the youngins too.
He went to the eastern shore on April 4th, 2024, and waiting on him were his parents Milton and Lucinda; brother, Floyd, brother, Clifford (Charlotte), brother, Cecil (Ann). Waiting to join him there some sweet day is the mother of his children, June Ruffin; daughters, Juanita and son-in-law, Nelson Smith and Linda Williams and son-in-law, Mark Williams; granddaughters, Crystal Brown (Mark Brown and son, Coby Brown of Eads, Tennessee), RayAnne Padgett (Jeff Padgett and children, Chloe, Bayleigh and Wyatt) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; grandsons, Ryan Smith (Sabra Smith and children, Drake, Kaiden and Clay) and Justin Smith of Violet Hill Arkansas, Dustin Noblin (Jaymie) of North Carolina and Jay Noblin (Jackie and daughter, Malia) of San Diego California; sister-in-law, Jeane Ruffin of Hollister Missouri and Jewel Shores of Stuttgart, Arkansas; many nieces and nephews and all of Calvary Church he loved like family.
Pallbearers will be Mark Brown, Coby Brown, Justin Smith Ryan Smith (son, Drake Smith) Jeff Padgett (son, Wyatt Padgett).
From the family: We would like to thank each and every one of you for paying tribute to Merlin. And one last thing before we close we would like to tell you all that Merlin had a nickname by a teenager he loved dearly. It was onion head because he was losing his hair on top of his head. All from that time period can you guess who gave him that name?
If Merlin could talk to us he would be saying WISH YOU WERE HERE. I encourage everyone to stop and read his favorite all time verse John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life”
In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to Calvary Missionary Baptist Church Stuttgart, Arkansas.
Funeral services will be at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Stuttgart, Arkansas, on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, beginning at 12:00 PM with Bro. Jackie Richardson officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 11:00 AM.
Interment will be Thursday, April 11, 2024, beginning at 11:00 AM at Roberts Cemetery in Franklin, Arkansas, with Bro. Doyne Robertson officiating.
