BIOGRAPHY

Ruppert was born in Pinckneyville, Illinois on 17 August 1898 as one of eight children born to George and Louise (Schneider) Ruppert. While enrolled in St. Bruno elementary school, she was a keen musician, studying the subject with her piano teacher, named Mrs. Hawkins. She would perform duets with her sister Magdalen.

As a young woman, Ruppert was employed at A. W. McCant’s general store. Following her graduation from Brown Business College in St. Louis, Missouri aged 21, she began working at the offices at the nearby Claridge Hotel. She simultaneously attended classes at Washington University.

Later, Ruppert became an auditor for the LeClaire Hotel in Moline, Illinois, and eventually worked for Memphis, Tennessee’s Claridge Hotel. This third hotel would be where she would remain until her retirement at the age of 65. For a further decade, she was an auditor for the Chisca Plaza Hotel. She had been a teacher of religion in the Italian Hill neighbourhood of St. Louis, as well as a member of several Catholic organisations; for one of which she was the bookkeeper.

Ruppert never married and had no children. She returned to her native Pinckneyville at the age of 75, and would live in her family home until her nonagenarian years. She resided in two different care homes throughout her final years.

Ruppert died on 31 August 2008 at the age of 110 years, 14 days. Her only surviving sister, Cdr. Margaret Ruppert, died in 2017 at the age of 101.

RECOGNITION

Ruppert’s age was verified by Filipe Prista Lucas and validated by the GRG on 8 February 2009.

ATTRIBUTION

GALLERY