Joel Douglas Ruminer

JOEL DOUGLAS RUMINER, 75, of Little Rock made his final curtain call on April 14, 2016. He was born July 18, 1940 in Guion, ARK., to Jack Borden Ruminer and Hila Weather Ruminer. Joel danced his way into thousands of hearts as the owner and operator of Joel's House of Dance which he started on Feb. 4, 1961. Throughout the years his reputation grew locally, state-wide and nationally. He was considered the number one authority on tap dancing throughout the world. Among his many accomplishments, he served as a choreographer for the Miss Arkansas Pageant for 40 years and was associated with the Arkansas State Fair Youth Talent and Fair Queen contests for 53 years. He was the first Arkansas resident to receive the Key to the City of Little Rock. Joel had a soft spot for children and the elderly. He stated "the happiest moment of my entire life, bar none, was the day a seven-year-old Down's Syndrome child, I had worked with for four years on a one-to-one basis turned loose of my hand and took off skipping across that dance floor without me." After he retired from dance, he worked as a funeral assistant with Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, all the while taking care of "Miss" Hila. Joel was preceded in death by his father and aunt, Inez Collie. He is survived by his mother, Hila Ruminer of Little Rock, Ark.; cousins, Paul Rackley, Jr. of New York City, N.Y., Peggy Row (Ray) of Batesville, Ark., Janet Lee (Wayne) of Melbourne, Ark., Michael Collie (Susan) of Beebe, Ark.; "son", Scott Drikakis (Angie) of Woodbury, Minn. and many other dear friends. Just as Mr. Joel choreographed his dancers, he choreographed his final wishes which will be honored at a memorial service to be held at 11 a.m., Sat., April 30, 2016 at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home Chapel, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Ark. (501) 224-8300. In lieu of flowers, Joel requested you to donate to the Joel Ruminer Permanent Endowment for Dance Education, a scholarship award for deserving dance majors at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Office of Alumni and Development, 2801 S. University Avenue, Little Rock, Ark. 72204. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.