Mary Elizabeth Bollinger Rufty

She was born May 11, 1925, in Catawba County, and was the daughter of the late Grover Macon and Mary Josephine Starr Bollinger.

She was a member of Monticello United Methodist Church and enjoyed her weekly outings with her Sunday school class. She was a devoted homemaker and enjoyed spending time at the Elder Center, gardening, and traveling.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death, on Sept. 9, 2001, by her husband, Albert Allen Rufty, whom she married on Dec. 24, 1943; a brother, Breman Bollinger; and five sisters, Rachel Brown, Sarah Utz, Helen Bost, Annie Miller and Ruby Hobbs.

She is survived by a daughter, Elaine Wilson (Tony), of Statesville; a son, Toby Rufty (Phyllis), of Mooresville; four grandchildren, Troy Wilson (Marsha), James Rufty (Beverly) and Greg Wilson (Jolaine), all of Statesville, and Joseph Allen Rufty, of Mooresville; eight great-grandchildren; and a brother, Bobby Bollinger (Geneva), of Hendersonville.

Funeral services celebrating Mary’s life will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday in the Westmoreland Chapel of Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home with the Rev. Jill Rhinehardt and the Rev. Steve Kirby officiating. Burial will follow at Iredell Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. today at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home, which is serving the Rufty family. At other times, the family will be at the home of her daughter, Elaine Wilson, 293 Wilson Farm Road, Statesville.

For those who prefer, memorial contributions may be made to Monticello United Methodist Church, 308 Island Ford Road, Statesville, NC 28625; or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com.

The family would like to express appreciation to the staff at the Elder Center and Statesville Place for their care and concern.