Rube Edward Cline

Rube Edward Cline, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 86. He leaves behind a legacy of devotion to his family, distinguished service, strong convictions, and countless memories that will be cherished forever.

Rube was born on October 25, 1939, to John Asaiel Cline and Ruby Ingraham Cline, both of whom preceded him in death. He grew up in Arkansas and graduated from Hartman High School. After attending the College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas, he earned a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1961. Later in life, he continued his education and earned his MBA from Webster College.

On July 11, 1964, Rube married the love of his life, Lorraine Eleanor (Wendt) Cline. Their marriage spanned more than 62 years and was built on love, commitment, hard work, and unwavering devotion to one another. Together, they created a family and a home filled with lasting memories.

Rube began his professional career as a private defense contractor with Northrop Grumman before joining the United States Department of Defense. He first worked with the Air Force and later moved to the Army, where his responsibilities included both work with troops and aviation systems. In February 1967, his career brought him from Long Beach, California, to St. Louis, Missouri—a move he often remembered as a rather cold introduction to Missouri.

St. Louis soon became home. Rube spent most of his distinguished career with the Army’s Aviation Systems Command (AVSCOM), where his engineering expertise, determination, and leadership ultimately earned him the rank of GS-15, making him one of the Department of Defense’s senior civilian employees. His work focused on military aviation systems, particularly helicopters, and included helping determine how they could be acquired, maintained, and kept operational.

His career brought him into frequent contact with Pentagon liaisons and members of Congress, and he was entrusted with matters of significant national importance. One of his first major assignments involved a new tank being assembled by Chrysler in Detroit, Michigan. In St. Louis, his direct supervisor was a two-star general.

Rube accepted responsibility readily and never hesitated to stand up for what he believed was right, even under tremendous pressure. His engineering mind, practical nature, and ability to solve difficult problems served him throughout his professional life and remained evident long after he retired.

Yet, as meaningful as his career was, Rube’s greatest accomplishments were found in his family.

He was a devoted husband and father who made being present a priority. He never missed an event in the lives of his children or grandchildren. He took great joy in teaching his boys and grandchildren how to ride bicycles, explore the wooded backyard, perform home and car repairs, and was always willing to share his knowledge, time, and patience.

Rube was especially proud of his son Edward’s accomplishments in high school and college football. With his son Matthew, he enjoyed attending wrestling matches and sharing countless adventures and misadventures such as breaking a rib while accompanying him to learn windsurfing at Creve Coeur Lake.

Rube and his sons also enjoyed restoring Volkswagen Beetles, taking satisfaction in understanding how things worked and bringing old machines back to life. His willingness to help was constant. When bad weather created a backlog of lawns, he was always ready to grab a mower and help Matthew catch up with his lawn-mowing business.

He also had a special appreciation for the art of a good deal. Garage sales and estate sales were favorite destinations, offering the possibility of finding something useful, unusual, or simply too good a bargain to pass up.

After retirement, Rube and Lorraine enjoyed exploring and traveling via several river cruises abroad.

Rube continued to put his engineering abilities and practical nature to work as a handyman. He enjoyed tackling odd jobs, solving problems, and figuring out how to make things work. Helping others was not merely something he did; it was part of who he was.

Above all, Rube was immensely proud of his five grandchildren: Devin, Lucas, Kelly, Chase, and Dylan. They brought him tremendous joy, and he treasured every opportunity to watch them grow, teach them something new, attend their activities, and spend time with them.

Rube is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Lorraine Eleanor Cline; his sons, Edward Allen Cline and his wife, Jane Arconati Cline, and Matthew Patrick Cline; and his five grandchildren, Lucas, Dylan, Devin, Kelly, and Chase.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Asaiel and Ruby Cline; his brothers, Carl Lee Cline and John Dean Cline; and his daughter-in-law, Stacy Moeller Cline.

Rube Cline lived a life of purpose. He served his country, stood firmly by his principles, loved his family deeply, and was always willing to lend a hand. His legacy lives on in the family he loved, the lessons he taught, the stories that will be told for generations, and the many lives he touched along the way.

A “Celebration of Life” will be held November 7, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. in the Historic Chapel of Manchester United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Manchester United Methodist church to the Rube Cline Memorial Fund.

He will be sorely missed, forever loved, and fondly remembered.