Jean Beatty Rupert

Jean Beatty Rupert, a retired food service supervisor, died of congestive heart failure Tuesday, November 18, 2003 at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. She had celebrated her one hundredth birthday on July11, 2003.

Born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, at age 13 she moved to Baltimore with her family, which eventually settled in the Govans section of the city. Mrs. Rupert participated in the first human flag celebration in Baltimore. She was an active member of the first girl scout troop in Baltimore, and spoke frequently of the troop picking peaches at an orchard in Havre de Grace.

While still in school, Mrs. Rupert was a playground leader at the foot of Broadway. She graduated from Western High School with the class of 1921, after which she taught primary grades in Mrs. Fry's private school on Roland Avenue at Wyndhurst. She also was storyteller at the public library in Govans.

Mrs. Rupert was very active in Govans Methodist Episcopal Church, now Govans-Boundary United Methodist Church, establishing a missionary society for teenage girls and leading them for many years. She was a member of her adult missionary society, coached many plays and productions presented at the church, and taught Sunday School in the beginners department.
In 1922 she married Walter Parke Rupert, who died in 1986. For many years they lived in their home on Darnall Road, in Ruxton.

Mrs Rupert was employed by Hochschild Kohn Department Store in Baltimore, where she became assistant manager of the tea room. Later she was dietician at Church Home and Hospital, and then food service supervisor for Matthias Food Service.

Mrs. Rupert loved to communicate with people and could speak eloquently on many subjects. She had a remarkable memory and entertained friends and family with detailed stories from her past. She never forgot a birthday, and sent cards and gifts regularly to all friends and family.

After her husband's death, Mrs. Rupert resided in the Versailles apartments in Towson, until August 2002, when she came to live in Bel Air with her daughter, Jean Carr, and son-in-law. She is also survived by a son, Lt. Col. Walter Parke Rupert III, Ret. of Little Rock, Arkansas, ten grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions will be made in Govans Boundary United Methodist Church, 5210 York Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21212.