ELIZABETH RUTH COXFORD (nee McGUFFIN) February 12, 1928 to August 4, 2016 Elizabeth Ruth Coxford, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to many, passed away after a short illness in her 89th year with members of her family by her side. Ruth, as she was known her entire life, was the daughter of Robert Gibson McGuffin and Agnes Margaret Sloane, both of whom came to Canada in the early part of the last century from County Down in Northern Ireland. Ruth was born in Toronto and grew up along “the Danforth”, attending the Eastern High School of Commerce and North Broadview United Church. At a New Year’s Eve party at the end of 1943, Ruth met Stewart Harrison Coxford and thus began a romance that endured to the present day. Ruth and Stewart were married in 1951, celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary this past February. Their love grew deeper with every passing year and Stewart has lost his best friend. Ruth was the loving mother to their three children, Susan Busby (Bob), Stephen Coxford (Kathy) and Nancy Coxford. She will also be missed and remembered by her grandchildren, Allison Anderson (Drew), Kate Busby, Peter Coxford, Andrew Coxford and Thomas Coxford, along with great-grandchildren Ella, Darcy and Charlotte Anderson. Ruth is also survived by her older sister Eileen Barclay and Eileen’s children, Robert Barclay (Barbara), Sharon Barclay and William Barclay. The first few years of Ruth and Stewart’s married life were busy ones; children came quickly and in 1957 the family moved to Richmond Hill where Stewart had started a new business. Richmond Hill was a small town in those days and Ruth and Stewart quickly became active members of the local community where they continued to live until the time of Ruth’s passing. Even during an 18-year stretch when they lived in King Township, Richmond Hill remained a focal point of their social life and volunteer commitments. Ruth participated with pride as Richmond Hill was transformed from a farm town to the ethnically-diverse, culturally-rich suburban community it is today. In her later years, Ruth reflected on many occasions about the wonderful life she had lived with a loving family and great friends. Inclusive and accepting of all others, Ruth aspired to meet the needs of family, friends and strangers with individual care and attention. Leadership skills were honed at North American Life Assurance Company, where Ruth assumed a managerial role while still a teenager. With these skills, together with her kindness and unfailing generosity, Ruth devoted her life to volunteerism, which had an extensive impact on the quality of life of others. She was actively engaged with the Home and School Association, The United Church Women, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and most especially York Central Hospital (now Mackenzie Health Centre). She was a founding member of the Volunteer Association at the hospital and her volunteer work there, spanning over 50 years, included a host of different jobs: admitting patients in the Emergency Room, paediatrics, taking photos of newborns, palliative care and in more recent years, working in the Chemotherapy Clinic to which Ruth and Stewart were significant donors and which in 2006 was named The Ruth and Stewart Coxford and Family Chemotherapy Clinic. She was proud to support the work of oncologist Dr. Matilda Ng, her doctor for many years. Ruth also served on the Board of Directors of the hospital’s foundation and was a founding member of the Board of Hill House Hospice, where she remained an honorary Board Member to the time of her passing. The town of Richmond Hill recognized Ruth’s incredible commitment to public service with its Volunteer Achievement Award in both 2007 and 2012. In her short remarks acknowledging receipt of the award, Ruth observed, “whatever I may have given, I have received so much more in return.” Ruth had many happy times with Stewart on Sanibel Island, where she loved to walk the beach and recharge in the sunshine. At their chalet in Ste. Adele in Quebec, she enjoyed nothing more than curling up with a great mystery in front of a roaring fire and welcoming back the skiers to a hearty meal with family and friends. Ruth’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren will miss the world’s best chocolate chip cookies. Upon Stewart’s retirement in 1995, they took the opportunity to travel the world. From Norwegian fjords to Machu Picchu in Peru and from the Serengeti to Hong Kong, Ruth’s curiosity took them to places that she could never have dreamed of as a child of Depression-era Toronto. She marvelled at the chance to see so much of the wider world. Over the past year, as Ruth faced increasing challenges with her health, she continued to live well and with dignity, maintaining her commitment to her community as much as possible. The family would like to acknowledge the wonderful care that Ruth received in recent months from Dr. Paul Randall and nurses Michelle McKay and Erwin Delemos, and from personal care workers Raquel, Anesca, Sam and April. Thanks also to the doctors and staff at MacKenzie Health Centre where she spent her last few days. Ruth’s personal generosity can be honoured with donations to Hill House Hospice, Mackenzie Health Foundation, Richmond Hill United Church or the program that ignites your heart! A Service of Thanksgiving and to celebrate the life of Elizabeth Ruth Coxford will take place at Richmond Hill United Church, 10201 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill (at the second stoplight north of Major Mackenzie Drive) at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 15, 2016. Arrangements entrusted to Marshall Funeral Home.