VINCENNES, Ind. —
Ralph William Ruppel, 77, Vincennes, Ind., passed away Tuesday Nov. 13, 2012, at The Lodge of the Wabash.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday with an 8 p.m. Knights of Columbus Vigil service at Fredrick and Son McClure-Utt Funeral Home, Vincennes Chapel, 313 Church St. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Thomas Church with the Rev. Schipp and Deacon Earl Ruppel officiating and burial following at St. Thomas Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Christian Education Foundation or St. Thomas Cemetery Endowment Fund. Friends may leave online condolences at www.fredrickandson.com.
Ralph was born Oct. 26, 1935, at home to Anthony Joseph and Anna Marie (Schlomer) Ruppel in St. Thomas. Ralph went to grade school at St. Thomas and graduated from Central Catholic High School and was drafted into the Army and served in Germany from 1957 to 1960. He began his employment at Gilliet and Thomas in 1957 as a gas station attendant and eventually co-owned the company with his long-time business partner, Robert Hess. In 1989, they renamed the business to R and H and relocated the business to where it remains today. Under his direction, Gilliet and Thomas and R and H won numerous nationwide awards for sale of Mack trucks, Dorsey trailers and parts.
Ralph was a Fourth Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus, a member of the St. John’s Catholic Church Choir for several years. He established Sister Cities programs in Vincennes, Ind., Teutopolis and Effingham. He was one of founders of the Highland Woods Park Board. He was an officer in the German-American Society of Indiana and an officer in the United States German-American Society. He was also the founder of the CEF sausage booth at the Vincennes Rendezvous and ran it for over 30 years. He was very active with the Christian Education Foundation and with Rivet Boys Basketball from 1964 to 1984 by organizing the admission and ticket sales at the home basketball games. He was also awarded the Spirit of Vincennes Rendezvous 1996 Long Knife Award. Throughout his leadership, Ralph has helped to organize the Annual Germanfest for over 41 years, which brings people to Vincennes from afar. His work with this contact became the nucleus for the sister city of Wasserburg, Germany, which we now enjoy and exchange both high school students and adults between the two cities. He shared his love with his German heritage with the people of Jasper.
Ralph is survived by his children, Gregory Ruppel of Jeffersonville, Cynthia Mouzin and her husband Edward of Vincennes, Sandra Hatton of Vincennes, and Jane Nicholls and her husband Robert of Indianapolis; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; sisters, Mildred Pea of Vincennes and Antionette Hedden of Vincennes; brothers, Ray Ruppel and his wife Mary Ann of Vincennes, Richard Ruppel of Lawrenceville, Anthony “Donald” Ruppel and his wife Lois of Vincennes and Deacon Earl Ruppel and his wife Judy of Vincennes.
He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Mary Elizabeth Eddleman and Lillian Ruppel; three brothers, Vincent Ruppel, Robert Ruppel and Edward Ruppel.
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Ralph Ruppel
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November 14, 2012
Ralph Ruppel
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