TOM RULE

BETHEL — Tom Rule died peacefully with family at his side in his beloved home in Bethel Lympus on Nov. 5, 2024, following a short illness.

Born in Proctor, Vt., Oct. 17, 1948, Tom grew up attending a one room school in Weybridge, Vt. He was a free-range kid exploring Otter Creek and the woods around his family’s home. As a teen in Middlebury he discovered music and taught himself to play guitar, which led to joining various rock and roll bands in Addison County, Burlington, and Stowe during the ’60s and ’70s.

In the early ’80s Tom met Susan, his wife of 42 years. Together they played music in various venues around Vermont. Tom continued to play music in the studio he built with his dad, adding keyboard and drum kit to his guitar and bass skills.

Tom was an introvert whose motto was Less is More. He often read from an anthology of old and modern writings in praise of simplicity. Outdoor and mountaineering adventures, surviving in the wild, living as a hermit were stories that captured his imagination. He loved observing nature, the cosmos, camping, canoeing, and exploring the White River, where he collected rocks and panned for gold.

Tom’s dry sense of humor, honesty, and thoughtful comments endeared him to many. He will be missed by his family and friends, and his canine co-pilot, Duke.

Tom was pre-deceased by his parents, Charlie and Ruth; and sister Carolyn. He is survived by his wife, Susan; sister Judy, and brother Chuck; sons Chris, Brian, Adam and Matt; daughter Josie; stepdaughter Caitlin Morris; his six grandchildren, Lauren, Jason, Jessica, Sierra, Emeline, and Rivers; two great-grandchildren, Charlotte and Landon; numerous nieces and nephews; and his loyal dog, Duke.

A gathering in Tom’s honor will be held sometime in the summer of 2025. Memorial contributions may be sent to For the Love of Dogs Vermont, P.O. Box 1112, Waitsfield, VT 05673. ◊