Obituary of Orville L. Rupell

Orville L. Rupell Jr., 82, of Karrsville, Mansfield Township, passed away Saturday, May 19, 2007, in his home. Born: On July 8, 1924, in Washington, he was a son of the late Orville L., Sr. and Florence Johnson Rupell. Personal: He and his loving wife, the former Mary Durnin, celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary on June 5, 2006. He had lived all his life in Washington, Port Colden, and Mansfield Township. He was a graduate of Washington High School, class of 1941. Orville was the owner and operator of a Frihofer retail baker route from 1946 until 1962 when we went to become a salesman for the Smith Motor Company in Washington. He retired from full-time employment in 1985 and worked part-time until the present. He enjoyed being the top salesman for the Ford Motor Company in Warren County. He was a committeeman for Mansfield Township for 30 years. He had served on numerous committees to include police commissioner and served several terms as mayor. He never lost an election. Orville was an Army veteran of World War II, having served in Alaska. He enjoyed people, and received much pleasure playing Santa Claus for organizations and families during the holiday season. Everyone looked forward to his annual Fourth of July fireworks display. Memberships: Orville was a devoted member of the Port Colden United Methodist Church, Port Colden for 49 years, where he served as a trustee, Sunday school teacher and a member of the administrative board. He dedicated much of his time in raising funds for the church as well as the American Cancer Society and the Helen and Clark Willever Society of the Mansfield Township Emergency Squad. He also was a past president of the Warren County League of Municipalities, past president of the New Jersey Association of Towns and Townships, a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, a member of the Mansfield Lodge No. 36, Free and Accepted Masons, Washington, Warren County Forest No. 14, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, and Crescent Temple Shrine, he was the founder and director of the Willever Society of the Mansfield Township Emergency Squad, a former member of the Mansfield Township Fire Company No. 1 and a life member of the Warren County Republican Club. Survivors: his loving wife, Mary; his sons, Orville L. Rupell III and his wife, Akiko, of Kileen, Tx., Drew Rupell and his wife, Linda, of Hackettstown, Patrick Boyle and his wife, Karen, of Washington and Christopher Rupell Sr. and his fiancee, Heather Piazza, of Morristown, Tenn.; his daughters, Kathleen Trexler of Bath and Bridget Boyle of Bedminster, N.J.; his brother, Lewis E. Rupell of Phillipsburg; his sister, H. Elizabeth "Betty" Lake of Broadway; nieces and nephews; 11 grandchildren, Eric, Craig and Katrina Trexler, Drew and Lee Rupell, Lauren, Megan and Kathryn Boyle, Stephen and Keira Hedges and Christopher Rupell Jr., and five great-grandchildren. Services: Will be Saturday at 11 a.m. in the church, Main Street, Port Colden, NJ. Masonic services will be held Friday at 7:00 pm Call on Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home, 234 West Washington Ave, Washington, NJ. Burial will be in Port Murray Cemetery, Port Murray, NJ. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Warren Hills Memorial Home, Washington, NJ. Memorials: May be made to the Helen and Clark Willever Society of the Mansfield Township Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 166, Port Murray, NJ 07865.