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Steve Rula
STEVE RULA (1924-2012) was born into a poor coal mining family in the town of Earling, West Virginia. Steve’s father, Paul, an immigrant from Yugoslavia, was drawn to the coal fields and establishe...view moreSTEVE RULA (1924-2012) was born into a poor coal mining family in the town of Earling, West Virginia. Steve’s father, Paul, an immigrant from Yugoslavia, was drawn to the coal fields and established a home with his American wife, Vivian. They had numerous children, five of whom survived.
Steve’s desire to ‘see more of the world’ led him to join the U. S. Army at the age of 16½. He spent 4 ½ years in the Army, which included his assignment at Pearl Harbor in December, 1941. Steve fought in the Pacific Theater, returning home to West Virginia, a very mature 21 year old.
Returning to high school to get his diploma, Steve met his future wife, Dona Jean, in high school. Despite the almost seven years age difference, they were happily married for 56 years until her passing in 2001.
Steve and Dona moved from West Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains to Richmond, VA in 1962. Steve stayed with his employer, A. T. Massey Coal Company, until his retirement.
Post retirement, Steve and Dona lived in the Northern Neck of Virginia. After Dona’s death, Steve moved to Panama City Beach, FL., where he lived happily and peacefully until his death in June, 2012.
Steve and Dona had four children, three grand children and, as of this writing, two great-grand children.view less