Rupe, Johnny Douglas

Johnny Douglas Rupe, age 71 of Pulaski, Virginia passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 In Winston Salem, North Carolina. Born January 21, 1951, in Pulaski, Virginia he was the son of the late Ernest Ralph Rupe & Agnes Williams Rupe Hughes.

Johnny based his life on two very important principals that guided him throughout:
1) UT Prosim, The Virginia Tech Motto Latin for “That I May Serve”.
2) The last line of the Jaycee Creed “That Service To Humanity Is The Best Work Of Life”

Johnny was retired from the Virginia Employment Commission where he was the Veterans Representative for over 40 years. Graduated from Pulaski High School in 1970 and is a Virginia Tech Alumni from the Class of 1974.

Accomplishments & Honors:

• President of the Pulaski County Hokie Club 1988-2023

• 2019 Johnny received the Hokie Club President’s Achievement Award

• 2014 he received The Michael Carroll Award for Virginia Tech State Hokie Club Representative of the Year

• A Lifetime Member of the Virginia Jaycees, a member of the Pulaski Jaycee’s where he held many positions over the years and received the Key Man Award

• Chairman and/or Co-Chair of the Pulaski Christmas Parade for over 40 years

• Was installed into the VPI Gregory Guard Honor Society in 2019

• Coached Dixie League Youth Baseball for 27 years, including 4 Southwest Virginia Regional Championships

• Was always involved in some type of Fund Raisers to assist others collecting thousands of dollars to help in any way he could.

He is survived by his:

SON – John “Eric” Rupe (Janie), Galax, Virginia

GRANDCHILDREN – Kelly Renee Rupe, John “Kyle” Rupe, Galax, Virginia

SPECIAL DAUGHTER – Kim “Bo” Nelson, Pulaski, Virginia

EXTENDED FAMILY – Keith Sidwell (Bambi), Patty Rupe, Butch Rupe (Christina), Matt Williams, Alvin Williams

SERVICES:

Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, January 21, 2023, at First United Methodist Church Pulaski. His family will be accepting visitors from 10am–1pm with a service following with Reverend Tony Eads and Reverend Gary Rorrer Officiating. Johnny requested Hokie attire or colors for this celebration.

In lieu of flowers, Johnny and family have requested donations to be made to one of these organizations that were near and dear to his heart in Memory of him:

• City of Refuge, Pulaski, VA

• Ronald McDonald House, Roanoke, VA

• Pulaski Daily Bread Food Bank, Pulaski, VA

• Wounded Warrior Project

• National Celiac Association (NCA)