Diane Ruffin was born January 3, 1949, in Cleveland, Ohio to Kohlie and Vinnie Ruffin.
She attended St. Edward’s during grade school and later graduated from Glenville High School in June of 1966. After graduation, she began her career working for The May Company in downtown Cleveland. She also worked at Cleveland Transit System (CTS), which is known today as Regional Transit Authority (RTA). She furthered her career at Keybank which was formerly Society National Bank, and later retired from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 2008.

She was a very active member of Affinity Baptist Church; she went on to partake in bible studies, where she completed and obtained her Certification on June 27, 1997, from Lee Road Baptist Church. To further her ministry, she would often donate to various charities.
Although she had no biological children, Diane cared for her nieces and nephews as if they were her own children. She was a natural caregiver and always willing to be there whenever you needed her. Diane took care of her father, Kohlie Ruffin, and was faithfully at the nursing home to ensure he had a shower, clean linen on the bed, and a hot meal to eat every day.

Diane enjoyed walking and working out. Her most profound interest was Astrology and sometimes Tarot card readings. Even though her sisters moved out of state, she enjoyed talking to them over the phone, and when they came to visit – it was always a party. She loved spending time with her nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews, especially on Saturdays when they would take a trip to the grocery store, and she would see Munchkin. They would listen to music, grab some Chik-Fil-A, or even go to a birthday party for great-great nieces and nephews. Diane loved all her family and friends dearly and will be missed until they all meet her again.

Diane was preceded in death by her parents and eldest sister, Mildred.

She leaves to mourn and cherish her memory, sisters, Patricia Ruffin of Buford, GA, and Helen Ruffin of Pauma, CA; nieces and nephews, Montel Jones III, Tisha Marie, Hashir Smith, Selina Smith, Braundria Smith, Talona Smith, Sheena Smith, Angelo Smith; great nieces and great nephews, family, and friends.