Bruce F. Rambler

Bruce F. Rambler, 91, of Palmyra went home to be with Jesus on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.  

Born July 5, 1930 in Lebanon, he was the son of the late Bruce H. and Helen (Hoffman) Rambler.  After 63 years of marriage, he was the widower of Dorothy L. (Yordy) Rambler since March  2016 and also preceded in death by his sister Patricia A. Fertig. 

Bruce was a member of the Lebanon High School Class of 1948 and attended their monthly reunion luncheons whenever he was able.  When he was 21, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he trained to be an airplane mechanic. His military service ended early upon the death of his father, after which he came home to help his mother and younger sister.  He worked at various knitting mills in Lebanon and Manheim as a machine mechanic throughout the 1950's.  In 1961, he bought his first new car, a 1961 Rambler station wagon, and then began working as an auto mechanic at H. S. Wagner American Motors and later became a paid fire truck driver for the Lebanon City Fire Department.  In the early 1970's, he attended HACC and Penn State, Middletown to receive his vocational teaching certificate and then continued his career as an automotive instructor at Cumberland-Perry Vo-Tech School, from which he retired.  

He was very active in community service in his younger years; serving in the boy scouts for many years, then later as a volunteer firefighter and ambulance driver for Citizen's Fire Company #1 in Palmyra, where he was a lifetime member.  He also served for 20 years on the Palmyra Cemetery Board.  He was a 50-year member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Palmyra where he served on the Property and Maintenance committee and played in the Handbell Choir for many years. He was a member and treasurer of Kittatinny Hunting Camp and a member of Campbelltown American Legion, Palmyra Sportsmen's Association and Steelstown Gunning Club.  He was also a member of a hunting club in Lycoming County where he enjoyed playing cards and hanging out with the boys after his years of deer hunting ended. His son Bruce and two grandsons Jacob and Michael were also members of the hunting club.

After his retirement, he drove cross country twice to attend the college graduation and wedding of his granddaughter, Lisa.  These trips were several months long as he and Dorothy visited friends, national parks, and other areas of interest along the way.  They especially enjoyed their visit to the Mormon Tabernacle in Utah, where they got to attend an organ concert.  He also enjoyed travelling on many bus trips with Senior Citizen groups.  He always loved his cars.  He enjoyed a ride on the back of Bruce's motorcycle for his 80th birthday and in son Bruce's various collector cars.  He also enjoyed rides in the country where he enjoyed spotting wildlife.  He was always ready to go for a drive, especially on the backroads.

Bruce played guitar as a young man, and after his retirement he took organ lessons and played for hours on end for the enjoyment of his wife, and friends and family.  He sometimes played at Trinity Church, nursing homes, and also was a substitute organist for several years at Shirks church in East Hanover Township, Lebanon County.  For a period of time, he participated in jam sessions with a bluegrass group.
 

Surviving are his children Donna O’Block of Palmyra, Debra Dickerson of Snow Hill, Maryland and Bruce Rambler (Shelly) of Palmyra;  six grandchildren: Lisa Corbett (Kevin), Alisha Youmans (Ernest), Jessica Dickerson (Jessica Reynolds), Jamie DeAngelus (Greg), Jacob Rambler and Michael Rambler; and nine great grandchildren: Brianna, Courtney, and Blake Corbett, Autumn Nuzman, E'Monte Youmans, Jordyn, Sophia, and Jonathan Smith, and Leila DeAngelus.

A funeral service will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, July 24, 2021 at Trinity United Church of Christ, 40 West Pine Street, Palmyra preceded by a viewing beginning at 10:00 AM.  Interment will be in Covenant Greenwood Cemetery, Ebenezer. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Trinity United Church of Christ, 40 West Pine Street, Palmyra, PA 17078 or Citizen’s Fire Company #1, 35 West Walnut Street, Palmyra, PA 17078.

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