Walter Rupert

Lt. Colonel Walter Parke Rupert III, Retired USAF, of Sherwood, Arkansas joined his Lord and Savior on his 86th birthday, May 31, 2009. Affectionately called "Walt," "Parke", "the Colonel" and "Colonel Rupert," he was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, the oldest child of Walter Parke Rupert II and Jean Campbell Beatty Rupert, both now deceased. As a dashing and handsome Army Air Corp pilot (Robert Redford had nothing on our dad), he married the stunningly beautiful Beulah Beatrice Johnson on February 21, 1945, only 3 months after meeting her while both were on military duty at Norfolk, Virginia. They were married just short of 60 years before she died in February 2005.

Colonel Rupert is survived by their eight children, Lauren P. Rupert (Kathie), Kathey Green (Bart), David Rupert (Tina), Stephen Rupert (Debbie), Mary Susan Cooper, Martha Allison, all of Little Rock/North Little Rock; Ann Shannon of Portland, Oregon; and John Rupert of Moreno Valley, California (Jeannette); 21 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson; as well as his sister, Betty Jean Carr (Burke) of Bel Air, Maryland.

Lt. Colonel Rupert retired at LRAFB in Jacksonville, Arkansas after serving 30 years as a pilot/navigator, missile crew member, and Commander of the 43rd Organizational Maintenance Squadron, which was awarded the best OMS in SAC while under his command. He never believed in asking his men to do anything he wouldn't do. He gave as much respect to those under him as he received from them.

After retiring from active duty, he worked for the Arkansas Dept. of Veterans Affairs for 15 years and was immensely proud of helping deserving veterans receive needed benefits. Always a patriot, he shared his intense love of his country with his wife, Beulah.

A devoted Catholic, he was a member of Immaculate Conception parish in North Little Rock for 50+ years. He was a loving and supportive father who took his children and their children into his home for years at a time when they needed support. Besides raising 8 children, he helped raise many of his grandchildren. He was the sole devoted caregiver for his wife, Beulah, for 7 years after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer?s Disease. He was an irrepressible storyteller who loved to laugh and who delighted in small children.

As Alzheimer's claimed more and more of his capacities, the sweet radiance of his spirit became all the more intensely distilled. We cannot thank him enough for the gift his life has been to us all.

No words can express the family's deep appreciation for the caregivers involved, especially primary caregiver, CNA Bessie Owen, for his last 20 months. Our father, as well as the family, depended on her for daily living and the love grew from her giving spirit and mutual respect.

The family will receive friends 6:00 p.m. to be followed by a
Rosary Service at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., 758-1170 at 7:00 p.m.. Mass of Christian burial will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 7000 JFK Blvd. followed by interment at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, Maryland Avenue, NLR.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to Baptist Health Hospice at 11900 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72204 or Alzheimer's Arkansas, 10411 West Markham Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205. Online obituary and guest register at www.nlrfh.com.