Ruth Marie (Ledford) Ruppe

Ruth Marie Ledford Ruppe, 93, of Fayetteville, passed away on Monday, November 25, 2024, at her home. 

Ruth was born on July 29, 1931, in Durham, NC, to Robert Newton Ledford and Cora Moss Ledford. 

She attended Duke University for two years before transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  She graduated in 1953 and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, America's most prestigious honor society.  She taught at Bowley Elementary School on Ft. Bragg, where she met Max, the love of her life.  She was a member of Haymount United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, the Carrousel Social Club, the Town and Country Garden Club and Daughters of the American Revolution. She enjoyed reading, needlework, baking, gardening and spending time with family.

In their 60 years of marriage, Ruth and Max were best friends and devoted to one another.  They enjoyed a marriage that is rarely seen.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Maxwell Ruppe and sister, Charlotte Ledford Nagel.

She is survived by daughters, Carol Ruppe Gilliland (Reg), Sharon Ruppe Smith (Ronnie), and Susan Ruppe Black (Len); son, Arthur Maxwell Ruppe, Jr. (Lena); seven grandchildren, Charles Ruppe Smith (Mary Kelly), Natalie Marie Smith Kohlleffel (Jonathan), Claire Jenkins Black, Rebecca Ruppe Black Blackman (Josh), Hannah Moseley Black, Katerina Marie Ruppe, and Lauren Elizabeth Ruppe; great grandchildren, Noah Paul Kohlleffel, and Stewart Elizabeth Smith; brothers-in-law, Joseph L. Nagel and Myron Ruppe; sister-in-law, Jeanette Ruppe Taylor; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to especially thank Ruth’s caregivers for their love and support: Shatekia Nash, Lindsey Davis, Merilyn Whitted, Lisa Starling, Sallie Rich, Helen Bell, Geri Huntsinger, Mary Ann Barrett, Cynthia McCrary, Isabel Padilla, Pamela Frisbee, Norma Zakers, Sherlyn Cannon, and Sharon Moore.

Visitation for Ruth Ruppe will be in the New Life Center at Haymount United Methodist Church at 2 pm on Sunday December 22, 2024, followed by a memorial service at 3 pm in the Sanctuary.

Memorials may be made to Haymount United Methodist Church, 1700 Ft. Bragg Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28303 at www.haymountumc.com

Online condolences may be sent to www.jerniganwarren.com

Funeral arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28301

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