Rupe, David Collins

David Collins Rupe - age: 83
(November 06, 1934 to October 17, 2018 )
Resident of Ukiah, California

Obituary:
Born November 6, 1934 and raised in the Ukiah valley, David Collins Rupe passed away on October 17, 2018.

David is preceeded in death by his father, Charles D. Rupe; his mother, Kara M. Rupe; his sister, Beryl Adair Cobb; his two nieces, Erin and Janean Cobb and his nephew J.D. Cobb.

He spent some time with the U.S. Marine Corp after high school and went on to work for the City of Ukiah. When his father opened the doors to Ukiah True Value Hardware store, he worked with his mother and father until his father retired. David, then, opened his own business, David Rupe Pumps, and he worked on water pumps and wells all over this valley until he finally retired.

David's passion was the great outdoors. He was an avid hunter and an expert marksman. He loved working in his garden; carefully measuring each row and driving in support stakes. One year, his onions were so sweet you could eat them like an apple. He not only grew his own food, but put venison, moose, elk, antelope, bear, yak and abalone meat on our table. Not many kids can say that they were teethed on jerky! Camping under the stars, or in drifts of snow under the cover of a wall tent, it didn't matter. He spent his most precious times outside.

Sometime during the mid sixties, he married the love of his life, Joy Bartolomei. Joy, too, loved hunting and, together, they spent many, many good years tromping the bush and scanning the hills and valleys with binoculars. From here to Alaska, Canada, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming and Africa, they made great memories together, kept the freezers full and Kodak in business!

David was devoted to his wife, his children, good, honest, hard work and he delighted in being a prankster. His favorite day to exploit this was April Fool's Day and, as time went along, we children began to wait for his phone call. He fooled us everytime until we finally got on to him. The only one who always fell for his pranks, was his wife, Joy. She either knew he was fooling, or let him think he was, just to make him feel good. Either way, the twinkle in his eye when he was able to make someone laugh, will always be remembered.

David is survived by his wife, Joy Bartolomei, his children: Beryl Milligan, Kathleen Sublet, David O. Rupe, Valarie Grafft, all of whom still reside in Mendocino County, and his niece, Linnea Hess of Kansas, his grandsons Matthew Rupe, Thomas and Daniel Sublet, and three great grandchildren, Ava, Lexi and Kayden Sublet. Last, but not least, he is survived by his devoted canine companion, Otis.

David will truly be missed by all those who knew him. A "Celebration of Life" is anticipated with information to follow.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Eversole Mortuary.