Charles Peyton "Pete" Rufe died from complications of Parkinson's disease on July 5, 2022 at the age of 90 in Waynesboro, VA. He was born in Abingdon, PA on February 29, 1932 to Dorothy and Redding H. Rufe.  He was a proud alumnus of The George School, Cornell University, Indiana University, and Catholic University.  Pete served in the U.S. Army for more than 20 years, including in Vietnam, Fort Sill, Fort Meyer, Korea, the Defense Language Institute, West Africa, Fort Bragg, Fort Benjamin Harrison, MacDill Air Force Base, Taipei (Taiwan), and Arlington Hall.  In 1963, while in graduate school at Indiana University, he met his wife, Joan.  They were married in 1965 and eventually settled in Waynesboro after Pete retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel.  Pete worked as a librarian at the Waynesboro Public Library until his retirement in 1990.

Pete was devoted to, and loved spending time with, his extended family. He enjoyed eating out, traveling, and spending time with friends. A linguist by training, he spoke Mandarin, French and the occasional bits of German,Spanish, and Russian. Pete also had great passions for trains, classical music and corny jokes.  He was a long-time member of the Waynesboro Rotary Club and also volunteered his time as a spelling bee announcer.

Pete is survived by his two children, Philip Rufe (Susan Centner) of Rolla, MO and Chris Rufe (Stacey) of Henrico, VA; five grandchildren: Charlotte Rufe, Nora Rufe, Franz Kindel, Karl Kindel (Elizabeth Sperry), and Julia Rufe; six great grandchildren: Hunter Kindel, Mia Sperry, Ezra Kindel, Gabriel Kindel, Pheobe Sperry, and Marlea Kindel; mother-in-law Jean Brueggeman, brothers-in-law Steve Brueggeman (Janet), Eugene Brueggeman (Nancy), and Michael Lester (Anne), and beloved nieces and nephew: Sarah Platz, Erin Brueggeman, Anna Haney, Gena Kester, Rachel Lester, Katie Curley, Kristin Lester, Martita Rufe and Michael Rufe.

Pete was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Rufe; mother, Dorothy Leise Rufe; father, Redding H Rufe; and his brother, R. Kane Rufe.

A Celebration of Life will take place in the fall at Grace Lutheran Church and Pete will be inurned in Arlington National Cemetery next to his beloved wife, Joan.

The family would like to thank Pete's caregivers at Summit Square and Legacy Hospice.