Ernest J. "Ernie" Ruef, 87, Dayton, died Dec. 24, 2010.

He was born Dec. 1, 1923, in Dayton. His wife, Madonna, preceded him death in 2004.

Surviving are six children, Dan (Marj) Ruef, Dayton, Patricia (Richard) Baucher, Celina, Don (Dina) Ruef, Gilbert, Ariz., Karen Ruef, Dayton, and Jerry (Debbie) Ruef, Dayton; two sisters, Hilda Probst, Dayton, and Betty Carder, Wilmington; two sisters-in-law, Marie Ruef, Dayton, and Janet Ruef, Kettering; a brother-in-law, Ferdinand Fahrig, Dayton; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Deceased are a son, Gerard Ruef; three sisters, Ida Auer, Regina Ruef and Hedwig Sailer; six brothers, Joseph, Max, Herman, John, Louie and Nicholas.

He was a U.S. Army Veteran and retired from the Dayton Fire Department in 1977.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Dayton, the Rev. Raymond Leurck officiating. Burial is at Calvary Cemetery in Dayton.

Calling is 4-8 p.m. today at Westbrock Funeral Home, 5980 Bigger Road in Dayton.

Memorials may be made to the I.C. Endowment fund or EWTN.