Edward L. Ruppenkamp, 98, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather was called to heaven on Sunday, January 14, 2024 at his daughter's home in North Carolina.

Born in 1925, the second of six children to John and Clara (O'Neal) Ruppenkamp of south Cumberland. He attended St. Mary's Elementary School, LaSalle High School for two years and finished his last two years at Fort Hill High School where he graduated in 1942.

Edward served in the Merchant Marine during WWII from 1943-1946. While serving he sailed 5 transatlantic round trips and went to: Scotland, England, France, Pakistan, India, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Morocco, Sweden, and Russia, as well as a trip to Cuba.

On April 22, 1946 he married the love of his life, Mary M. Steigerwald, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Cumberland. They were married for 74 years. Edward worked at Celanese Fibers Company for a short time, then at ATK (formerly Allegany Ballistics Laboratory) for 35 years as a powder machinist until retirement in 1987. He was one of the founders of the Bowling Green Volunteer Fire Department in 1947 and was a very active member for many years.

He and Mary met while roller-skating. They round danced, square danced and line danced well into their eighties. Their dancing peers referred to them as "The Ole Smoothies". He loved game nights with family and friends. One of Edward's and Mary's favorite pastimes was playing golf. They were members of Maplehurst Country Club and enjoyed traveling with friends and family to play courses in Myrtle Beach, SC, New Smyrna Beach, FL, Somerset, PA, and Branson, MO. He cherished vacationing at Isle of Palms and Myrtle Beach SC, as well as trips to Alaska, New Mexico, California, New England, and the Amish Country in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Edward was a member of SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Mountains Parish. He was a constant volunteer at the weekly bingo nights at SS Peter and Paul and Bishop Walsh High School. He volunteered at St. Anthony's Place and was most pleased to work many hours on the altar restoration at SS Peter and Paul Church. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #586. He was an avid Notre Dame and Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Clara (O'Neal) Ruppenkamp, his wife, Mary M. (Steigerwald), his son, Michael G. Ruppenkamp and all five of his siblings. He was lovingly known to his family as "Pops". He is survived by his daughters, Marilyn L. Felten and husband, Edward, Terry R. Whitworth and husband, Horace, Elaine S. Cessna and daughter-in-law, Peggy Ruppenkamp-Geisler and husband, John; grandchildren Katie M. Roberts and husband, Justin, Michael J. Ruppenkamp and wife, Gina, Amy L. Pearson and husband, Les, Laurie F. Nuchurch and husband, Derrick, Ryan E. Felten and wife, Estee, Taylor A. Whitworth and husband, Loïc, Laura C. Whitworth and husband, Travis, Hannah P. Whitworth, Allison M. Menscer and husband, Mark, James R. Sears and wife, Katie, Tyler M. Cessna and wife, Jasmine, and Devon M. Cessna; 14 great-grandchildren Haleigh, Noelle, Jeremiah, Keira, Jack, Sam, Joey, Evangaline, Jake, Luke, Harvest, Théo, Paisley and Willow.

Friends and family will be received at the Scarpelli Funeral Home, P.A., 108 Virginia Avenue, Cumberland on Friday, January 26, 2024 from 10:00 A.M until 12:30 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at SS Peter and Paul Shrine at 1:00 P.M. Burial will take place in St. Mary's Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons Ryan Felten, Michael Ruppenkamp, James Sears, and Devon Cessna, and nephews Mark Ruppenkamp and Chris Ruppenkamp.

Following the burial ceremony, a reception will be hosted by the Bowling Green Volunteer Fire Department in their social hall on McMullen Hwy, Bowling Green.

Those wishing to honor Edward's memory may do so by making contributions to The Shrine of SS. Peter and Paul at 300 East Oldtown Road, Ste. 2, Cumberland MD 21502, or at St. Anthony's Place at Our Lady of the Mountains Parish at 300 East Oldtown Road, Ste. 2, Cumberland MD 21502, or at the Bowling Green Volunteer Fire Department, 12420 McMullen Hwy. SW, Cumberland, MD 21502.