George Edward “Ed” Ruyle of St. Peters, Missouri passed away on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at the age of 76. Ed succumbed to acute leukemia after many years of bravely fighting the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Ed was the devoted husband of Julia L. Ruyle (NEE: Mefford); loving father of Roy Wayne (Debra) Ruyle and Edward Scott (Deborah Damery) Ruyle; dear grandfather of Sierra Ann Ruyle (deceased) and Emily Ann Ruyle; beloved brother of Patricia Marie, Teresa Genell, James William, Margaret Bernadette, Jon Nelson, Donald Mathew, and Charles Mark. Ed was also a loving uncle, cousin and friend of many and will be dearly missed by all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph Leander Brown Ruyle and Geneva Marie Ruyle (NEE: Hughes) and beloved siblings Anna Pauline, Stella Ruth, Joseph Erwin, Francis Claire and Sara Dianna Eugenia.

Ed was born on March 27, 1944 in Clinton, Oklahoma. On February 26, 1963 he married Julia and they shared a love affair that spanned over 57 years. Ed was an aircraft mechanic at T.W.A. for most of his adult life, retiring in 2006 from American Airlines. An avid sportsman, his love of the outdoors was only surpassed by his great love of all things family and his faith.

There will be a private celebration of life ceremony on September 19, 2020 when his remains are placed in Our Lady of Sorrows columbarium at All Saints Catholic Parish in St. Peters, Missouri. In lieu of flowers please consider one of Ed’s favorite charities in his honor; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wounded Warrior Project, or St. Joseph’s Indian School.

The family would like to share the following words that once touched Ed’s heart in the hopes that they may bring you comfort;

Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again! Henry Scott Holland