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Edith Smith Rupar

Post IndependentGlenwood Springs, CO Colorado

Edith Smith Rupar passed away just one day short of her 103rd birthday. She was born Nov. 29, 1909 at her home in Franklin, Kansas. She moved from Glenwood Springs to Montrose in 1989, where she has lived in her own home.Edith was a mother and grandmother first and foremost, but she was also a school teacher for 40 years. In September of 1926, at the age of 17, she began teaching in Franklin, Kansas. Her pay was a total of $69.50 per month, “if funds are sufficient.”She had 48 students in her first class of fifth-graders. According to Edith, teaching was fun! “If it wasn’t, I didn’t have sense enough to know the difference.” Later in life, at the age of 54, she proudly completed her college degree from Kansas State Teachers college.Edith loved to sing and dance, and could play the piano by ear. Life for her was a joy that she freely passed along with her crystal clear memory and great stories of a colorful past.In 1936, she married Louis Rupar from Mulberry, Kansas. She and Louis lived in Chicago one year during the depression; then in Reliance, Wyoming for 14 years; and Glenwood Springs for 34 years, before moving to Montrose in 1989.Edith was preceded in death by her husband Louis in 1975. She is survived by her two children, Elaine (Dick) Baker of Montrose, and Bob (Sydney) Rupar of Walla Walla, Washington. She is survived by five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.She was a member of the United Methodist Church, chapter HL P.E.O., and was a charter member of Delta Kappa Gamma. She played an integral part in the Methodist Church as lay-leader, Sunday school teacher and in the Women’s group.A celebration of life will be held at the Montrose United Methodist Church at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Autism Society of Colorado, in care of the Montrose United Methodist Church at 19 South Park Avenue, Montrose, Colorado 81401. Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory, Montrose, Colo.


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