SEBRING, Ohio — Donald Charles Rupert, 95, of 800 South 15th Street, Sebring, Ohio, died April 21, 2009, in the Crandall Medical Center of Copeland Oaks.
He was born to Willis and Emma Van Skiver Rupert Dec. 14, 1913, on the Rupert family farm outside of New Waterford, Ohio.
After graduating from Fairfield Centralized High School in 1932, Mr. Rupert attended the College of Wooster and later transferred to The Ohio State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 1937. Returning to the family farm, he instituted new methods of seed production and also brought innovations related to its Jersey dairy herd.
Mr. Rupert was active in a number of agricultural associations: Gamma Sigma Delta, the honor society for agriculture; Farm Bureau, which awarded him a Lifetime Distinguished Service Award; the American Jersey Cattle Association; the Ohio Jersey Breeders Association, which he served as board member and treasurer; Ohio Agriculture Services, which he also served as treasurer; and advisory committees for the OSU Extension Service in Columbiana County and the Columbiana Soil and Water Conservation District.
He is an emeritus member of the Ohio Seed Improvement Association.
Mr. Rupert had an active interest in education and is a past president of the Columbiana County School Board. His organizational leadership and monetary gifts helped establish the Crestview Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.
He was also involved in other community organizations, including the New Waterford Lions Club; Fairfield Ruritan; and the Columbiana County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, for which he was treasurer.
He is a past president of the Columbiana County Historical Association and helped to establish and stock the Items of Yesteryear Museum at the county fairgrounds.
Mr. Rupert was a lifelong member of the New Waterford Presbyterian Church, where he was at various times elder, Sunday school teacher, and Sunday school superintendent.
Late in his life, Mr. Rupert worked on writing projects, including an essay published in the book My Midwest: Rural Writings from the Heartland, a travel article published in the Farm and Dairy, and personal projects for his family.
In 2004, he was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Grace Moore Rupert.
He is survived by four daughters, Jean Nickol of Wilmington, N.C., Doris Frederick of Springfield, Joyce Levine of Hudson and Kathleen Schulz of Santa Fe, N.M.; a son, Mark W. Rupert of Albuquerque, N.M.; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; three sisters, Elverda Baughman of New Waterford, Frances Beson of Houston, Texas; Lois Boyle of Sebring, and one brother, W. Ralph Rupert of Columbiana.
Two brothers, Raymond Rupert and Robert Rupert, preceded him in death.
The Rev. Jan Douglass will conduct a memorial service at 2 p.m. May 16 at the New Waterford Presbyterian Church. Family will receive friends after the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the New Waterford Presbyterian Church or to the Crestview Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, c/o Elwood Woolman, Guidance Office, Crestview High School, 44100 Crestview Road, Columbiana, OH 44408.
Arrangements were made by Warrick-Kummer-Rettig Funeral Home, Columbiana, Ohio.
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