Earl Kenneth Ruppe Sr. age 77 died Friday June 27, 2014 at his home. Born in Rutherford County on December 22, 1936 he was the son of the late Joseph Benjamin and Ida Abi Greene Ruppe. Earl was a member of Mulls Memorial Baptist Church. He was a truck driver for Carolina Freight for a number of years and retired from ABF trucking. In his career he had driven 3,000,000 miles. Earl was the best husband and father anyone could ask for. He loved life and his family and loved telling jokes and making people smile. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife Mary Lou Ruppe;  two daughters, Julie Batchelor and Andrea Ruppe; grandson, Adam Ruppe; and a sister, Doris Gantt.

Earl is survived by, two sons, Jeffery Ruppe and wife Faith of Shelby, Kenny Ruppe of Polkton, and son-in-law, Van Batchelor of Nashville; a daughter, Lisa Lowery and husband Danny of Shelby; three sisters, Mildred Bebber and husband Jack of Taylorsville, Martha Hardin of Forest City, and Sybil Hollifield and husband Eckels of Shelby; 15 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren; and a special friend, Diane Burleson.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday July 1, 2014 at 11:00am in the chapel of Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory with Dr. Irvin Price officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday June 30, 2014 from 5:30pm until 7:00pm at Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Hospice Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby NC 28150.