Ora Bell Rule, 97, of Columbia, MO passed away Thursday, May 13, 2021 at her home. Friends may gather from 1-2pm, Tuesday at Memorial Funeral Home 1217 Business Loop 70 West Columbia, MO. Funeral Service will be 2pm at the Funeral Home and burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Ora was born February 25, 1924 in Columbia, MO to Cliff and Eula Wyatt Gruber. She was a life-long resident of Boone County. On March 9, 1940, she married Wesley Rule in Columbia, where they spent 58 years together before his passing. She was the Matriarch of her family, seeing 4 generations come after her. She was an excellent cook, most known for her elaborate Thanksgiving dinners and making the best fried chicken that her family asked for repeatedly. The passion of watching her beloved St. Louis Cardinals baseball team never faltered, watching games while she worked on one of the many handmade quilts given to family and friends. She also enjoyed fishing with her grandchildren and painting her ceramics. In her younger years, she and Wesley would go dancing at the VFW on Saturday nights. She also worked for over a decade at 3M as an assembly line worker.
She is survived by her sons; Andy (Kathy) Rule of Columbia and Jack Rule and (Cheryl Sonntag) of Rocheport; grandchildren, Travis (Kelly) Rule of Kansas City, MO, Reggie (Carrie) Rule of Republic, MO, Cheryl (Dan) Benthall of Columbia, and Leslie Rule (Dale) of Hallam, NE; six great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Carolyn Gruber, many nieces and nephews and loving extended family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wesley, and daughter-in-law Betsy Rule; and siblings; Ada (Carlton) Powers, Helen (James) Schmidt, Charles (LeVita) Gruber, Thelma (Fred) Cook, James (Carolyn) Gruber, Ruth (Lester) Daly, and Everett Gruber.
Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation 30 East 33rd Street New York, NY 10016.
