Bill Ruble

Bill Ruble, 86, former longtime resident of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, died Sunday December 23, 2007, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Born May 28, 1921, in Delaware County, Oklahoma, he was the son of Benjamin Flavious Ruble and Nylla Lee Clark Ruble. Bill moved from Delaware County as a child and spent time inYale and Cleveland, Oklahoma. He was a graduate of Cleveland High School. A World War II veteran, Bill served in the U.S. Army Air Force from June 1940, to June 1945. After the war he returned to Siloam Springs to work in the family shoe store where he met his future wife Iva Dean Phipps. They were married July 20, 1946. They moved to Califonia where Bill worked for a time in an oil refinery while he attended Long Beach City College to study drafting and pipe alignment. He later attended the Mayflower School of Business. Bill and Iva Dean moved back to Siloam Springs where he owned and operated Ruble's Mayflower Moving and Storage from 1957 until his retirement in 1995. Bill was active in the affairs, development and improvement of Siloam Springs for more than fifty years. He served on the Siloam Springs City Council from 1960 to 1962, the Siloam Springs Museum Board, Library Board and the City Airport Commission. Bill was a past president and charter member of the Siloam Springs Kiwanis Club, as well as a former Boy Scout Troop Leader, Scout Master and board member. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Siloam Springs, and a district lay reader for the First United Methodist Church for 5 years. His most known and memorable role was that of Santa Claus in the annual Christmas parade. Bill rode the fire truck as Santa every year from the early 1950s until 2003. Survivors include his son Phil Ruble and his wife Rebecca of Tulsa, Oklahoma; daughter, Teri Sue Krantz and husband Steve of Ankeny, Iowa; 2 grandsons, Jason Krantz of Ankeny; Skyler Ruble of Tulsa; 3 granddaughters, Stephanie Lee and husband Mitch of Ankeny; and Alex and Ashlynne Ruble both of Tulsa; and a number of nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his wife Iva Dean Ruble in 1994, and brothers Roy and Jack Ruble. Visitation will be 6:00 to 7:30 PM Wednesday, December 26, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Thursday, December 27, 2007, at Wasson Memorial Chapel with Dr. Randy Rowlan officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.

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Bill Ruble

May 18, 1921 - December 23, 2007