February 21, 1927 – November 9, 2013
Arthur Rupert, age 86, peacefully entered into rest on November 9, 2013 at his own home while being watched over by his beloved cat, Maggie. He was born on February 21, 1927 in Yakima WA to Benjamin and Elsie (Tipler) Rupert because Prosser did not yet have a hospital. Art was an Eagle Scout and Golden Gloves boxer in high school. Immediately after his 1944 graduation from Prosser Senior High, he enlisted in the US Army and served during WW2 in a hospital division.
After discharge, Art attended Washington State University for a short time then returned to Prosser which remained his home for nearly his entire life. He and Margaret “Maxine” Evans wed in 1953. They were married for 55 years, until Maxine’s death in 2008.
Art enjoyed a lengthy career as a fiscal officer for Benton County, starting in 1955 until he took an early retirement in 1982. This turned out to be only the first of several “retirements”. Pursuing a life-long dream to explore Alaska, he and Maxine then temporarily relocated for 18 months to Kodiak where he served as that city’s Chief Financial Officer. Art also served for many years as Paterson School District’s accountant; drove Prosser school bus, and served on Benton County’s Mosquito Control District board.
Community service included being very active in the American Legion. A highlight included his appointment to the National Executive Committee. He held many other offices including Commander of Prosser’s Captain Green Post #20; District Commander, and he was also a member of a veteran’s invitational honorary, the “Forty & Eight”.
Art was an active member of Rotary International; he was named a Paul Harris Fellow and Rotarian of the Quarter. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star, Amaranth; Elks, Eagles, and the Washington General’s Association. Serving as a volunteer firefighter for many years was yet another contribution to the community he loved.
Travel included most (if not all) 50 states. One of Art’s most memorable trips occurred in May 2013: a veteran’s Honor Flight to Washington DC to visit “his” memorials.
An avid stamp and postmark collector, Art became a national expert in cataloging community and decommissioned US post offices. He was a decades-long member of the Post Mark Collector’s Club (PMCC), and a featured presenter at many of the organization’s national conventions. Golf was another passion, and one to which he applied his creative accounting skills. Much to his family’s bemused chagrin, the postal service’s motto applied to both his rural post office expeditions and all-season golfing forays: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night…”
Aviation was a life-long avocation: Art earned his private pilot’s license as a young man and remained a member of the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) until his death. Aircraft he piloted included single-engine fixed wing, pontoon, and gliders. Other pursuits included salmon fishing in Alaska and reading (especially WW2 and military history). His sly sense of humor was one of Art’s many endearing traits.
Art is survived by his three children: Sharon Travis (Lovell) of Vancouver, WA; Joy McAdams (Ian) of Nelson BC; and Evan Rupert (Shiela Brown) of Prosser. Grandchildren include Danielle Craigen (Kyle); Krista Dosenberger (Alan); Tyler Rupert, Dustin Morrill (Tiffany), Lachel Davis, and Brendan Davis. His great-grandchildren are Yuri Carr and Eleanor Margaret Craigen.
Art also leaves other family members Steve Reynolds of Mead, WA; Dan Underwood (Pat) of Richland WA; numerous nieces and nephews, and countless friends.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Frank Rupert, John Rupert, and sister, Dorothy Rupert Friend.
Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, November 23rd at 11:00 am at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 912 Yakima Avenue, in Prosser. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Prosser chapters of the American Legion, Rotary club, or Meals on Wheels. Prosser Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with the arrangements.