Lora Rupard

Lora Lunsford Rupard, 92, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Friday, March 4, 2016. Praise God, her mind is at ease, her soul is at rest. She was born February 1, 1924, to the late William Isaac and Ella Jarvis Lunsford, one of 10 children. She was married to the "love of her life", M. P. Rupard for 64 years until his death in 2009. Mrs. Rupard was born in Iredell County, and a graduate of Union Grove High School. She dedicated her life to her Lord, husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family. She worked alongside her husband on their farm in Union Grove. She enjoyed tending her vegetable and flower gardens, sewing, and sharing her delicious baked goods with others. Mrs. Rupard lived by example the lessons she taught her children; the most prominent being to "Love Your Neighbor as Yourself." She was a faithful member of Grassy Knob Baptist Church for nearly 70 years, where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She read her Bible daily, reading it through many times. Mrs. Rupard was also preceded in death by her siblings: Gertha Foster, Webster Colonel Lunsford, Ray Lunsford, Elmere Heintz, Hessie Howard, Nora Stepp, Rose Proctor and Herbert Lunsford. Left to cherish her memory are: her sister Clara Templeton; four children: Nedra VanZee (Jim) of Statesville, Janet Daugherty (Raymond) of Albemarle, Mark Rupard (Sandra) of Union Grove, Roxie Mack (Ron) of State Road; six grandchildren: Daphne Daugherty, Judson VanZee (Bianca), Raymond Lee Daugherty III, (Laura), Elesha VanZee, Rupard Mack, Rheannon Williamson (Jason); seven great-grandchildren: Olivia Eldridge, Cate, Tyler and Lily Daugherty, Bethany Williamson, Zoie and Jax VanZee and numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral service and celebration of her life will be held Saturday, March 19 at Grassy Knob Baptist Church, Union Grove, NC, officiated by the Reverend Alan Lunsford and Pastor Scott Chenevey. Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, prior to the service at 2:00 pm. A graveside burial will immediately follow at the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Steve Heintz, Mike Heintz, Randy Templeton, Harlan Templeton, Brent Stepp and Brent VanHoy. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grassy Knob Baptist Church Missions Fund, Hospice of Statesville, Gideon Ministry or charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made to www.nicholsonfunerals.com. Her family gratefully acknowledges the staff at Jurney's of Statesville for the kind, loving way they cared for Lora during the past five years. Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Mrs. Lora Rupard