400 ATTEND LIMBAUGH FUNERAL

The patriarch of the Limbaugh family was laid to rest Thursday afternoon next to his bride, who died almost 19 years before him.

For the most part, the funeral service for Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. was of typical United Methodist fanfare, probably the way the Limbaugh would have wanted it. The most extraordinary aspects of the service were the cross-section of people that paid their last respects and the "van loads" of flowers sent in remembrance of a man whose legal career spanned more years than most people's lives.

Limbaugh, 104, died Monday, April 8, 1996, at his home on Sylvan Lane. He practiced law for more than 80 years.

State officials, judges, community leaders and others -- about 400 people in all -- gathered at Centenary United Methodist Church for the service. The minister, the Rev. Dr. Neil Stein, delivered the eulogy.

Besides the eulogy, a violinist began the service, a soloist sang a Christian hymn and a trumpeter performed "Amazing Grace." It was a relatively simple service for a man who gained international fame as a lawyer and who lived through the Space Age and witnessed this country fight six wars. But Limbaugh enjoyed living a simple life in Cape Girardeau.

In addition to family members such as a U.S. district judge and nationally known radio and TV talk-show host, Secretary of State Bekki Cook, a former associate in the law firm Limbaugh founded, and State Auditor Margaret Kelly attended the ceremony.

Three justices from the Missouri Supreme Court also attended the service. One of the justices, Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr., was bidding farewell to his grandfather. Chief Justice John Holstein and Justice William Price also paid their respects.

A host of other officials from state representatives and senators to city leaders and lawyers also attended.

"No one can really tell the story of the life of Rush Hudson Limbaugh," Stein said. "He joined this church in 1911, before most of us came into being."

The minister said Limbaugh was a man who made everything -- family, clients and God -- take center stage in his life. "A grandson told me that Pop -- that's what everyone called him -- made each of them feel they were the most important one in his life," he said.

"Even though he is gone physically," Stein said, "it makes no sense to stop living up to his standard."

Limbaugh lived a long and quality life, Stein said, because of his ability to adapt to new things. "Most people resist change, but Rush never aged," he said.

The minister quoted a line from a book Limbaugh wrote but never published about his life with his wife, Bee. "On the night of her death, he wrote, 'For the first time in 63 years I was utterly alone except for the memories of the greatest soul I had ever known,'" said Stein..

A long funeral procession to Lorimier Cemetery followed the service.