Eulogy by Liz Forman, convener of the Richard VA
OSl chapter.

To meet Rufus Womble was to instantly and genuinely become his friend. To speak to Rufus was to be intently listened to and truly heard. To see the twinkle in his eye and the slightly upward curve of his lip was to know that the punchline of one of his best Rhiso therapies was coming up. And….to watch Rufus get an empty cup and saucer and cross the room with a new "friend" in his sights for his famous "spilled coffee trick," was to fully share in his delight, his happiness and his joy. And that is what I believe we will always remember about Rufus….That he was filled with the joy of the Lord.

I first met Rufus in January 2001 at the Thursday healing service here at All Saints. When he opened his sermon that morning with the words "The Joy of the Lord is my strength," I knew I had come home. Many of you, although propelled by different circumstances, found that same home with Rufus, a home watched over by our Heavenly Father. Rufus was the elder brother in our family, our earthly shepherd, who guided us ever so gently, with authority.

Our brother Rufus shared his life like an open book, and the account of his miraculous healing, so many years ago, impacted thousands of people beyond these walls….. His detailed witness showed all of us what being in "right relationship" means to the Lord and to our health, both as individuals and as a community. His healing changed Rufus forever, and that change impacted us as well. As his dear Jacque said to me recently, Rufus was "all about the love." We are blessed because he dedicated his life and his ministry to sharing that love, which came through the healing love of Christ, with all of us.

In closing, I would like to return to our reading from 1 Corinthians 13. When I prayed about writing this remembrance, this scripture was laid on my heart. When I found out last night, long after writing this, that Rufus had chosen the same scripture for his service, I thought it might be good to use a tried and true Bible study technique to help us all understand the passage a little better…..for Love and Rufus are synonymous words indeed!
Rufus was patient, Rufus was kind. He was not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. He did not insist on his own way; he was not irritable or resentful; he did not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoiced in the truth. He bore all things, believed all things, hoped all things, endured all things.
Rufus was "all about the love," for he didn't just study those words, he lived them…..
If I were given only one sentence to speak, to remember Rufus Womble by, it would be this:
Rufus not only loved the Lord, he was the Love of the Lord manifested in each of our lives.
As we continue his work in the healing ministry and in the Order of St. Luke, let us give thanks and praise to the Lord our God for His amazing love, which was given to us, in the life and ministry of our dear friend Rufus Womble…..