Obituary of Ruth Kerpash

Dora Ruth Kerpash Funeral services for Dora Ruth Kerpash of Elsberry, MO were held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 27, 2003 at the Elsberry First Christian Church in Elsberry. Rev. Bob Norvel, pastor of the Annada Community Christian Church, officiated with burial in Elsberry City Cemetery in Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers were Carol Dean Cox, Les Lonsberry, Erin Tapley, Eric Tapley, Marshall Suddarth, and Dane Tapley; honorary pallbearers were Jim Robinson, Gene Robinson, Larry Vaughn and Norvall Hagemeier. Mrs. Kerpash, 83, died Tuesday evening, December 23, 2003 at her home near Elsberry. Born August 24, 1920 in Plain View, Arkansas, she was the daughter of the late Claude Samuel and Dora Elizabeth Pence Robinson. At an early age, Mrs. Kerpash lived with her uncle Jesse Lee Robinson and his wife, Mary Elizabeth "Lib", and their children: Joe Robinson, Lola Robinson, and Lorene Turner, whom she considered her brothers and sisters. They all preceded her in death. She was united in marriage on January 14, 1939 in St. Charles, MO, to Sylvester "Syl" Frank Kerpash. Mr. and Mrs. Kerpash owned and operated Kerpash Auto Body Shop for 28 years. She was a former member and past president of the American Legion Post #226 Ladies Auxiliary and a former member and past Noble Grand of the Rebekah Lodge of Elsberry. She was a member of the Clarksville American Legion Post #349 Ladies Auxiliary and the Elsberry First Christian Church. Besides her parents, Claude Samuel and Dora Elizabeth Robinson; her step-mother, Dona Robinson; eight brothers: James "Jay" Robinson, Robert "Bob" Robinson, Sr., Floyd "Bus" Robinson, Forrest "Freckles" Robinson, Benjamin "Bennie" Robinson, Curtis Robinson, and Ralph Robinson and Arnold Robinson, who both died as infants; three sisters: Naomi "Sis" Mauer, Sarah "Sallie" Cox, and Mary Mathews; one step-sister, Nellie Brinkman; and her beloved husband of 51 years, Sylvester "Syl" Kerpash, who died October 30, 1990. Survivors include one daughter, Rita Faye Tapley and her husband, Dean, of Elsberry; three grandchildren: Erin Dean Tapley and his wife, Christy, of Cape Girardeau, MO, Eric Brandon Tapley and his wife, Bobbie, of Elsberry, and Elizabeth "Beth" Marie Suddarth and her husband, Marshall, of Elsberry; and two great-grandchildren: Brenden Lee Suddarth and Kaitlin Nicole Tapley. She also leaves two sisters: Martha Vaughn of Elsberry and Alma Logan of Alexandria, VA; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Friday, December 26, 2003 at Elsberry First Christian Church in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the Elsberry First Christian Church or Community Loving Care Hospice in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343.