Obituary of Shirley Rupert

Shirley Orcutt Rupert, left her beloved Smith Mountain Lake home on April 21, 2013. She fought the good fight against age and infirmity; lovingly tended to by family and friends. Shirl slipped peacefully away on June 11, 2013, exactly as she would have preferred. She will be interred beside her late husband, Jack Burns Rupert, on Sunday, July 7, 2013, at the Trinity Ecumenical Parish columbarium. The 3:00 pm service will be followed by a reception arranged by her lake friends. All are welcome. Shirl was born on March 10, 1928, in Kane, Pennsylvania to Sam and Helen Orcutt. She attended the Rochester Institute of Technology, where she met Jack. They married on June 16, 1951, and eventually settled in McLean, Va. Where they raised four daughters and a son. Jack was a professional photographer who owned Congressional Laurel Studios in Rockville, Maryland, where Jack was "the artist" and Shirl did everything else. After fire gutted their successful business, Jack retired and Shirl took a position with the C.I.A. Jack and Shirl loved the water and boating in particular. The pursuit of the perfect retirement spot took them from the Potomac River to lakes all over Virginia. They happily settled into a waterfront home in Smith Mountain Lake, which was a summer get-away for all. Shirl threw herself into all of her favorite things at the lake, starting with Newcomer's Club and Trinity Ecumenical Church. She enjoyed bridge, mahjong, hiking, and book club memberships. Her favorite club was the She Doos. Shirl prided herself on being the oldest member of the group; purchasing a new jet ski for her 80th birthday. She truly loved the camaraderie of the "lime green" ladies; participating in their parties, community activities, and Wednesday morning jaunts on the lake. Shirl loved reading; and always had a book in progress form two libraries or a friends. Shirl was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brother, Willis Orcutt. She is survived by her beloved younger sister, Carola Orcutt(Cody Wallace), and husband Dr. Richard Wallace; her five children and their families: Carola Enriquez, her husband John, and children John Patrick and Lauren; Paula Petrey, her husband Jim, and children Ryan, Elizabeth, John, and Justin and his wife, Lillie; Andrea Ross, her children Jacob and Jacqueline and her husband Peter Andre; Jackie Ryder, her husband Thom, and children Callan and Sam, and his wife Trish; Adam, his wife Pam, and children Paul, Philip, and Peter. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Trinity Ecumenical Parish, Columbarium Fund, 40 Lakemount Drive, Moneta, Va, 24121, or Moneta/SML Branch of the Bedford Library, 13641 Moneta Road, Moneta , Va 24121.