Mr. Arthur Maxwell "Max" Ruppe, 86, of Fayetteville passed away Friday afternoon in his residence.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 29, 2015, at 12 noon in Haymount United Methodist Church with Rev. Dennis Goodwin presiding. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 11 to noon in the New Life Center at Haymount UMC.

Max was born December 15, 1928, in Watauga County to the late Arthur and Floye Robinson Ruppe. He graduated from Gardner Webb College in 1947and from UNC Chapel Hill in 1950; he then received his Juris Doctorate from UNC Law School in 1952. He served as a Staff Judge Advocate in the US Army from 1952 to 1955 and later in the US Army JAG Reserves until 1962.

He served in his own private law practice from 1955 until 1998, and worked as a mediator from 1997 until his retirement in 2003.

Max was a member of American Association of Justice, American Bar Association, Fayetteville Investors Group (president in 1965), Cumberland Lodge of Knights of Pythias (past Chancellor Commander), Fayetteville Jaycees, Cumberland County Bar Association (president from 1982-83), 12th Judicial District Bar Association, Carrousel Club (president in 1970) and the American Legion.

He was a member of Racepath Baptist Church in Ellenboro, NC and attended Haymount United Methodist Church.

Max is survived by his wife, Ruth Ledford Ruppe of the home; brother, Myron Ruppe; sister, Jeanette Ruppe Taylor; children, Carol Ruppe Gilliland (Reg), Sharon Ruppe Smith (Ronnie), Max Ruppe, Jr. (Elena) and Susan Ruppe Black (Len); and 7 grandchildren, Charles and Natalie Smith, Claire, Rebecca and Hannah Black and Katerina and Lauren Ruppe.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Haymount United Methodist Church.