A war veteran, a teacher, a coach, a farmer. Brother to Doris and Roy, husband of sixty-two years to Doris, father to Lynn, grandfather to Chris, Terry, and Michael, and great-grandfather to seven. In his eighty-nine years, Rupert White meant a great deal to his beloved hometown of Delaplaine and the people in it.

Rupert was born to Leonard and Mae Williams White on January 10, 1932, in Greene County, Arkansas. Rupert attended Delaplaine High School where he was named Best Boy Athlete in 1949 before graduating from Arkansas State University. In 1953, Rupert proudly served in the army, during the Korean War. After marrying his sweetheart Doris Rice in 1954, he returned to his alma mater in 1957, where he coached basketball and baseball until 1962.

Through forty years of farming, he checked rice fields and watered beans, and even after retiring in 1996, he still rode his Ranger around making sure Dale was doing it right. If he wasn\u0027t trolling around Walker\u0027s Cove in his old fishing boat, he was sitting at the farm store playing high five. As a founding member of the Delaplaine Hunting Club, Rupert spent the fall sitting on a deer stand at Holler Mountain, often taking his grandsons along to instill a love of Melbourne and hunting. Rupert's love for sports extended throughout his life, especially his love for the St. Louis Cardinals. Even when his eyesight faded and he found it difficult to see them on television, he would still listen to the game and could always tell you the score.

Rupert passed away on September 12, 2021. He is survived by his sister, Doris Riippi of Dekalb, Illinois; son-in-law, Eli Murray of Delaplaine; grandsons, Christopher (Andrea) Murray and Michael (Amber) Murray both of Delaplaine; granddaughter-in-law, Stephanie Murray of Pocahontas; and great-grandchildren, Olivia, Tripp, Wyatt, Bryson, Brooklyn, and Blakely. He is also survived by nieces and nephews and other family members and friends.

Rupert was reunited in death with his parents; wife, Doris Rice White; daughter, Beverly Lynn Murray; brother, Roy White; grandson, Terry Murray; and great-grandson, Gauge Murray.

Pallbearers include Chris Murray, Michael Murray, Jimmy Dale Rice, Donald Keeling, Dale Murray and Terry Varner. Honorary pallbearers include Eli Murray, Roy Carol White, Emanuel Martinez, Keith Mosbey, Terry Gray, Jack Crabtree, Olivia, Tripp, Wyatt, Bryson, Brooklyn, and Blakely Murray.

Visitation will be 11:00a.m. - 1:00p.m. Wednesday, September 15, 2021 with funeral service to follow at 1:00 p.m. in the McNabb Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow services in the Greene County Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Jim Austin Memorial Scholarship Fund or to a charity of your choice.