When Rufus Edward Sims was born on 18 January 1887, in Grant, Arkansas, United States, his father, Archibald Leroy Sims, was 28 and his mother, Malinda Cornelia Horn, was 26. He married Nancy Elizabeth Threet on 30 November 1911, in Hot Springs, Garland, Arkansas, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 daughters. He lived in Gifford, Hot Spring, Arkansas, United States in 1910 and Saline Township, Hot Spring, Arkansas, United States in 1930. He died on 7 February 1960, in Benton, Saline, Arkansas, United States, at the age of 73.