Obituary
On Saturday, September 3, 2022 at 11:52 am as the first episode of 2022 College Gameday was nearing the end, our Head Life Coach, Robert C. Rupert also known as “Rupe” of Flagler Beach, FL passed away surrounded by his family and a lifetime friend. Rupe was born on July 18, 1933 in Huntingdon, PA to parents Emma (Merriman) and Robert H Rupert, he grew up and attended high school in Tyrone, PA and later played football at Bucknell University and graduated from General Motors Institute. He served in the US Army in Germany and France. He designed and moved Rupert Chevrolet to Tipton, PA after purchasing from his father in a third-generation dealership that was first established in 1919.
He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Carole Reyner and nephew, Rick . He is survived by his loving wife of over 61 years, Nancy (Gottshall), his children Robert C Rupert II (aka Tiger) and Amy Murray, his granddaughter, Emma Murray, a niece, Robin Walker Gibbons, a nephew, Webb Reyner Jr, and lifetime friend, James Maisano.
Rupe loved many different sports and had different roles in them throughout his life. Next to Nancy, football was his love and he was both player and coach winning several accolades in both. Tyrone High School 3-time letterman in Football and Basketball, 1951 Bucknell Football undefeated-untied team, COMZ Championship and US Army Europe All-Star team player. Tyrone Youth Football Buckeye Championship Coach 1975-1977, Juniata Valley District 6A Championship team Assistant coach and inductee into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
His athletic ability continued onto the links where he met many of his closest friends at the courses he belonged to; Sinking Valley CC, LPGA, Halifax Plantation, and other courses in FL. He had two hole-in-one’ s and played into his 80s.
Throughout his life he enjoyed spending time at the Tyrone YMCA where he played basketball into his 40s. When he wasn’t playing, he would also referee and was a member of the PIAA in various sports. He spent many cold winters hunting at the Allegheny Hunting Camp and was a charter member of the St Francis College Red Flash Athletic Booster club. Anything that led youth to sports was his passion and he sponsored and donated to many of those organizations.
He loved having friends over to watch Penn State and Pittsburgh Steeler Football games. He believed a firm handshake was a sign of respect, his kindness and big heart benefitted many along his life’s journey and he loved dogs, especially his last buddy, a Golden Lab named Who Dat, who passed away in September 2019. We ask Memorials to be made to ECGRR (Emerald Coast Golden Retriever Rescue where Who Dat came from) PO Box 535 Panama City, FL 32402 and include: In Memory of Robert C Rupert.
In his honor we ask that you raise a glass and toast him, then post the photo and maybe a memory you have to #toastBigRupe.
One of my favorites