Anna Jane Ruffin

Anna Jane Owens Ruffin, 91, of Wilson, died Tuesday, November 19, 2024.

A celebration of her life will be held at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church on Tuesday, December 3rd at 11:00 AM. The family will receive friends after the service at the church. A private burial will take place prior to the service.

A native of Wilson, she was the daughter of Marvin Dean and Lillian Liverman Owens. She attended Charles L. Coon High School and graduated from St. Mary’s School in Raleigh. She attended the Women’s College of Greensboro (UNC-G) and graduated from Atlantic Christian College (Barton). Anna Jane worked for Atwood Skinner & Associates and Barnes & Flippin as an interior designer. She received a degree in Interior Design from the Parsons School of Interior Design. She was a devoted and active member of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church. She was an avid tennis player.

In 1988, she married Harvey Barron “Bud” Ruffin and they spent the last years of their lives traveling, watching golf and their beloved Tarheels. Anna Jane was devoted to her 3 sons, 7 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, to whom she taught many valuable life lessons.

She is survived by her two sons, Gustav Edward Gauss (Kim) and Harry Dean Gauss (Liza); three stepchildren, Harvey Ruffin, Mary Anne Ruffin (Bridget) and Jane Odum (Padgett); grandchildren, Megan Gauss Hill, Robert Douglas Gauss (Nancy), Anna Marshall Wilson (Charles) Mary Riddick Stallworth (William), Anna Wooten Loggins (Randall), Johanna Vaughan (Jay), John Christopher Gauss, Jr. (Becca); 12 great-grandchildren; and her devoted caregiver, Sherby White.

She was predeceased by her parents, her son, John Christopher Gauss, and husband, Harvey Barron “Bud” Ruffin, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, PO Box 1527, Wilson, NC 27894, or to Lillian Liverman Owens & Anna Jane Owens Ruffin Endowed Scholarship at Barton College, PO Box 5000, Wilson, NC 27893.

Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Dr. N, Wilson, (252) 237-7171; www.wilsonmemorialservice.com