Ruthann Blough Pfau

Ruthann Ida Blough Pfau, of Plain City, Ohio, passed away at her home on June 5, 2022, surrounded by her loving husband and two sisters. She valiantly battled cancer for 14 months. Ruthann was born April 3, 1961 in Wooster, Ohio to Elmer L. Blough and Lorene S. (Hartzler) Blough. She married Edward J. Pfau on December 1, 2001.  After graduating from Smithville High School in 1979, Ruthann earned her B.S. and M.S. in Biological Sciences from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She went on to study at Indiana University’s Indianapolis campus, completing her PhD in Medical and Molecular Genetics. While there, she also became a board-certified genetic counselor and worked as a prenatal genetic associate. Following a post-doctoral fellowship in clinical cytogenetics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, Ruthann ran the CHMCC cytogenetics laboratory for several years, eventually transitioning to Dayton Children’s Hospital where she practiced both genetic counseling and laboratory diagnostics. After completing a fellowship in clinical molecular genetics at the Columbus Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Ruthann worked at the Center for Human Genetics Lab at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland. Most recently, she worked with the Nationwide Children’s Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics Laboratory as an associate director and with the Ohio State University Medical Center Department of Pathology as an associate clinical professor.

 Ruthann had a wonderful laugh, was a great conversationalist, humble, witty, selfless, generous, accessible, and made everyone feel at-ease and special. She had a deep love of learning, travel and exploring cultures whether local, national, or international, the ocean, cats, various genres of music, reading, and many hobbies, especially spinning wool, knitting, fabric arts, and jewelry making.  At the end of the day, what she valued most was spending time with family, friends, and colleagues, all connected by a sincere desire to help others. Ruthann was an active member of Broad Street Presbyterian Church, Columbus, co-leader of the Stephen Ministry and a former deacon.

She is survived by her husband, Edward J. Pfau of Plain City, mother Lorene Blough of Rittman, sister Ellen (Russ) Gerber and brother Dan (Amy) Blough of Smithville, sister Margaret (Robert) Tapolcsanyi of Lodi, niece Holly Blough and nephew Evan Blough, both of Smithville, sister-in-Law Connie Pfau (Anthony Tomaeno) of Savannah, GA, a loving extended family, and many life-long friends.

Ruthann was preceded in death by her father Elmer Blough, brother David Blough, parents-in-law Alphonse and Margaret Pfau, and sisters-in-law Mary and Carol Pfau.

Family will welcome friends from 4:00-8:00p.m. FRIDAY at the TIDD FUNERAL HOME, DUBLIN-PLAIN CITY CHAPEL, 9720 State Route 161, Plain City, OH 43064. A Memorial Service will be held 10:30a.m. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2022 at BROAD STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 760 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43205 with The Reverend Ann Palmerton, officiating. Family burial was held at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, West Jefferson, Ohio.

Special thanks to so many who showered Ruthann and Ed with an outpouring of love and support in the form of numerous calls, visits, cards, flowers, gifts, meals, lawn care, and more. 

If they choose, friends may make memorial contributions to: The Broad Street Food Bank, https://bspc.org/ministries/food-pantry/. or to Heifer International at www.heifer.org.

Please visit www.tiddfuneralhomes.com to share your favorite memories of Ruthann and to send your condolences to the family.