James E. Rupert, Sr.

James Edward (Ed) Rupert, Sr., age 83, resident of Cleveland, went home to be with the Lord on May 1, 2008, at his home in Cleveland. He was born in Middlesboro, KY to the late Charles Rupert and Bertha Rupert Bussell. He was also preceded in death by his stepfather, Hazen Bussell, his uncle, John H. Rupert, a son, John T. Rupert and a granddaughter, Julie N. Rupert. He was a member of the Church of God and will be remembered as a man who loved God and daily walked with him in faith and humility. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and went in on Normandy and Omaha Beach. He also fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He moved to Cleveland in 1987 after retiring from Ford Motor Company in Monroe, Michigan. He was employed by M&M Mars as a security guard for 15 years, and considered his co-workers to be a part of his extended family.

He was a loving and devoted care giver to his wife of 61 years, Virginia Yarberry Rupert. Other survivors include his two sons and their wives, James E. (Eddie) Rupert, Jr. and Lynda of Cleveland and W. Stanley Rupert and Kelly of Farmington Hills, Michigan; four grandsons, Jeffrey T. Rupert and John B. Rupert of Cleveland, Mark A. Rupert, Flat Rock, Michigan and W. Jacob Rupert of Farmington Hills, Michigan, three great grandsons, Mark A. Rupert, Jr. and James Brandon Rupert of Flat Rock, Michigan, Shon Rupert of Cleveland; one great great granddaughter, Lorelai Rupert of Flat Rock, Michigan; one sister and brother in law, Mildred Sue and Rev. William C. Myers, Cleveland; one nephew, Barry C. Myers; one niece, Delores Stewart of Cleveland and two special care giving nieces, Doris Barker and Sheri Harper; brother in law and his wife, William and Eileen Yarberry of Knoxville, TN and several other nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

A Celebration of the Life of Ed Rupert, Sr. will be held Sunday, May 4, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. at Grissom Funeral Home with Rev. Gary Sears officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery in Knoxville, TN with Jeff Rupert, John Rupert, Shon Rupert, Barry Myers, David Lane and Jim Barker serving as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends Saturday, May 3, 2008, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Grissom Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.grissomfh.net