Donald E. "Whitey" Ruppert, 71, of 1410 Oakview Drive, St. Marys, died at 5:30 a.m. July 23, 2009, at his residence.

He was born March 1, 1938, in Wapakoneta to Eamer and Norma Eisert Ruppert. On July 18, 1959, she married Eloise Bailey, who survives.

Other survivors are two children, Terry (Joyce) Ruppert, St. Marys, and Lisa (Donnie) Peters, Indianapolis, Ind.; a brother, Dale (Patricia) Ruppert, Wapakoneta; two sisters, Betty Johnson and Gladys Zwiebel, both of Wapakoneta; and four grandchildren.

He retired after 38 years at West Ohio Gas Company, where he had served as operations manager. He was a 1956 graduate of St. Joseph High School, Wapakoneta, and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, St. Marys, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge, both in Wapakoneta, Ducks Unlimited, St. Marys Kiwanis Club and the Dayton Auto Racing Fan Club. He coached youth baseball.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Monday, at the church, the Rev. Matthew Lee officiating. Burial, with military honors conducted by the VFW, is at St. Joseph Cemetery, Wapakoneta.

Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Miller Funeral Home, St. Marys.

Contributions can be made to Friends of Holy Rosary School.

Condolences can be left at www.millerfuneralhomes.net.