Obituary for Ruth Neville Bridgeforth (Derflinger)
Ruth Neville Derflinger Bridgeforth passed away peacefully in her home, Clearview, surrounded by family.
Ruth was born July 7th, 1930 in Warren County, Virginia to William James and Lennis Robinson Derflinger. Ruth grew up in Riverton, Virginia and was a 1949 graduate of Warren County High School. At Warren County High School Ruth participated in various sports. Also, Ruth was known as “the girl that drove a Buick” and fondly nicknamed “Derf”.
Ruth continued her education at Winchester Memorial Hospital earning her degree in Nursing. She formed many life-long friendships with her registered nurse classmates from the class of 1952. She worked at WMH while her husband Ed was stationed in Korea as a First Lieutenant with the United States Army. A talented singer, Ruth sang beautifully in the Braddock Street United Methodist Church Choir for over fifty years. She was an active board member of the Virginia 4-H Center, Shenandoah University and Farmers and Merchants Bank.
Those left to cherish her memory are her five children: Margaret Denise Bridgeforth, Lennis Diane Bridgeforth Lively (Terry), Karen Neville Bridgeforth, William Edwin “W.E.” Bridgeforth III (Lisa) and James Scott Bridgeforth (Lauri). She is also survived by a Sister-In-Law, Patricia Saffell Derflinger.
Ruth’s lucky number was seven and she exceeded that number by seven as she celebrated fourteen grandchildren: Daniel D. Lively, William Edwin “Eddie” Bridgeforth IV (Molly), Jessica L. Montoya (Andrew), Travis L. Bridgeforth, Claire B. Martin (Ryan), Amelia Ruth Eyles, J. Sean Bridgeforth, Margaret F. Waldruff, L. Paige Bridgeforth, Isabella K. Kiser (Luke), Allegra L. Eyles and J. Seth Bridgeforth. Ruth also celebrated six great-grandchildren: William Edwin “Quent” Bridgeforth V, Felicity Bridgeforth, Gabriella “Gabby” Montoya, Rose Bridgeforth, Andrew “Drew” Montoya, and James Ryan Martin.
Ruth was predeceased by her husband William Edwin “Ed” Bridgeforth and two granddaughters, Alexandra Ruth Eyles and Lennis Nicole Waldruff and a brother William Allen Derflinger.
Ruth loved sports and spent countless hours supporting local high school and university events. She was an avid supporter of James Madison University and JMU Athletics. Ruth leaves behind a legacy of family members who attended JMU including four children and six grandchildren. Ruth along with her husband Ed were instrumental in the early development of the JMU Football program establishing the first football scholarship. This support resulted in the naming of JMU’s football stadium as Bridgeforth Stadium. Ruth accompanied her family attending many of JMU’s successes including JMU’s first football national championship in 2004. Her support of the Dukes was unwavering and her spirit will be felt anytime her family members visits JMU in the future.
Community, friends, and family were incredibly important to her. Let’s remember Ruth, her life on this Earth, and her journey into His loving arms.
Friends may call at Jones Funeral Home, Monday, January 24, 2022 between the hours of 10:00 am -7:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Braddock Street United Methodist Church at 118 Wolfe Street, Winchester, Virginia, 22601 and the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center at 600 4h Center Drive, Front Royal, Virginia, 22630.
Ruth was born July 7th, 1930 in Warren County, Virginia to William James and Lennis Robinson Derflinger. Ruth grew up in Riverton, Virginia and was a 1949 graduate of Warren County High School. At Warren County High School Ruth participated in various sports. Also, Ruth was known as “the girl that drove a Buick” and fondly nicknamed “Derf”.
Ruth continued her education at Winchester Memorial Hospital earning her degree in Nursing. She formed many life-long friendships with her registered nurse classmates from the class of 1952. She worked at WMH while her husband Ed was stationed in Korea as a First Lieutenant with the United States Army. A talented singer, Ruth sang beautifully in the Braddock Street United Methodist Church Choir for over fifty years. She was an active board member of the Virginia 4-H Center, Shenandoah University and Farmers and Merchants Bank.
Those left to cherish her memory are her five children: Margaret Denise Bridgeforth, Lennis Diane Bridgeforth Lively (Terry), Karen Neville Bridgeforth, William Edwin “W.E.” Bridgeforth III (Lisa) and James Scott Bridgeforth (Lauri). She is also survived by a Sister-In-Law, Patricia Saffell Derflinger.
Ruth’s lucky number was seven and she exceeded that number by seven as she celebrated fourteen grandchildren: Daniel D. Lively, William Edwin “Eddie” Bridgeforth IV (Molly), Jessica L. Montoya (Andrew), Travis L. Bridgeforth, Claire B. Martin (Ryan), Amelia Ruth Eyles, J. Sean Bridgeforth, Margaret F. Waldruff, L. Paige Bridgeforth, Isabella K. Kiser (Luke), Allegra L. Eyles and J. Seth Bridgeforth. Ruth also celebrated six great-grandchildren: William Edwin “Quent” Bridgeforth V, Felicity Bridgeforth, Gabriella “Gabby” Montoya, Rose Bridgeforth, Andrew “Drew” Montoya, and James Ryan Martin.
Ruth was predeceased by her husband William Edwin “Ed” Bridgeforth and two granddaughters, Alexandra Ruth Eyles and Lennis Nicole Waldruff and a brother William Allen Derflinger.
Ruth loved sports and spent countless hours supporting local high school and university events. She was an avid supporter of James Madison University and JMU Athletics. Ruth leaves behind a legacy of family members who attended JMU including four children and six grandchildren. Ruth along with her husband Ed were instrumental in the early development of the JMU Football program establishing the first football scholarship. This support resulted in the naming of JMU’s football stadium as Bridgeforth Stadium. Ruth accompanied her family attending many of JMU’s successes including JMU’s first football national championship in 2004. Her support of the Dukes was unwavering and her spirit will be felt anytime her family members visits JMU in the future.
Community, friends, and family were incredibly important to her. Let’s remember Ruth, her life on this Earth, and her journey into His loving arms.
Friends may call at Jones Funeral Home, Monday, January 24, 2022 between the hours of 10:00 am -7:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Braddock Street United Methodist Church at 118 Wolfe Street, Winchester, Virginia, 22601 and the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center at 600 4h Center Drive, Front Royal, Virginia, 22630.