Grace Elizabeth Rupert

Sebring October 4, 2004 -Grace Elizabeth Rupert, age 90, of 800 South 15th Street died at 1:40 p.m. Monday in the Alliance Community Hospital, where she had been a patient for one day.

She was born Oct. 21, 1913 in Fairfield Township, daughter of Clyde and Bella Brown Moore.

She had lived in the New Waterford and Columbiana area all of her life before moving to Copeland Oaks in Sebring nine months ago.

Mrs. Rupert is survived by her husband, Donald C. Rupert, whom she married May 21, 1939; four daughters, Mrs. Stephen (Jean) Nickol of Wilmington, NC, Mrs. James (Doris) Frederick of Springfield, Mrs. James (Joyce) Levine of Hudson, and Mrs. Edward (Kathleen) Schulz of South Vienna; a son, Mark W. (Regina) Rupert of Albuquerque, NM; two sisters, Mrs. Helen Crouse of Radnor and Mrs. William (Isabel) Lower of Fort Collins, CO; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A sister, Mildred Bonfert and two brothers, Edgar Moore and Robert Moore, preceded her in death.

Mrs. Rupert graduated from Fairfield Centralized High School in 1931. After earning a teaching certificate at Kent State Normal College in 1933, she taught third grade at Fairfield for five years prior to her marriage; she also valued her two summers as handcrafts and swim instructor at Camp YOTA near Erie, Pa.

As a young woman, she became a special friend and advocate for her eventual brother-in-law Bob Rupert, whom she helped educate.

In 1958 Mrs. Rupert returned to teaching, implementing the first kindergarten program for Fairfield-Waterford Schools. She completed her degree of Bachelor of Science in Education from Youngstown State University in 1961, while raising her family, teaching, managing a large garden, and assisting her husband in the Rupert dairy and seed business. During her twenty-year teaching career, Mrs. Rupert was beloved by many students and was an innovative proponent of active learning for young children. She is a past recipient of the Columbiana County Outstanding Teacher Award.

Following retirement in 1973, Mrs. Rupert was a co-founder of both the Play and Learn Preschool in New Waterford and the Columbiana Doll Club. Other retirement interests included reading, quilting, writing, gardening, family and travel.

Mrs. Rupert held memberships in county, state, and national teachers' associations and in county and state Farm Bureau Women.

Along with her husband, she was a longtime member of the New Waterford Presbyterian Church, where she was active in the Women's Association.

She served as a Meals on Wheels volunteer.

Grateful for the assistance she had received from her uncles Larry Brown and Charlie Lower during her depression-era college years, Mrs. Rupert was a supporter of schools and students with low resources, such as in Amish and American Indian communities.

The Rev. Dr. Meta Cramer will conduct a memorial service at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, October 23, at the First Presbyterian Church in Columbiana.

Her family will receive friends following the service at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Crestview Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, c/o Elwood Woolman, Guidance Office; Crestview High School; 44100 Crestview Road; Columbiana OH 44408.

Arrangements by the Warrick-Kummer Funeral Home.

Condolences can be sent to the family online at www.familycareservices.com or to Don Rupert, Copeland Oaks, Sebring OH 44672.