Virgil Harold Ruppenthal
1938-2023
Virgil Harold Ruppenthal, age 85, of Berkeley Springs, W.Va., died on Friday, November 10, 2023 at Winchester Medical Center.
Born October 14, 1938 in Hagerstown, Md., he was the son of the late Henry Martin Ruppenthal, Jr. and the late Frances Ada Henry Ruppenthal.
He was a member of Abundant Life Full Gospel Pentecostal Church. Virgil was graduate of Berkeley Springs High School and received his Master’s Degree in education from Shepherd College. Virgil worked with the Morgan County Schools as a principal and teacher at Cherry Run School and also with Great Cacapon Elementary School. He then went on to teach the 5th grade at Widmyer Elementary School. Virgil was one of the very best teachers that Morgan County ever had.
Virgil was a disc jockey with our local radio station WCST for 50 years. He was better known in radio land as “Swinging Virg.” He and his wife Betty made numerous trips to Nashville, Tenn. to meet with country music artists. Virgil helped to place them on the charts where he felt they belonged and also picked up records for his collection. A special thank you to Chris Dodson for hosting them so many times. Virgil played records for the Saturday Night Sock Hops. He loved playing music and collecting records.
Virg was a member of Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Company with 50 years of service, where he served as secretary for many years. Virgil was in charge of the coordinating and scheduling the entertainment for the annual Fireman’s Carnival. Some of the music stars would have dinner and stay with Virgil and his wife, Betty. He was also a member for 19 years with the Berkeley Springs Jr.O.U. A.M. Council #117, where went through all chairs and served as Chaplain for many years and he had served as State Warden with the Jr.O.U.A.M. State Council. Virgil so enjoyed the Friday night meetings. Virg coached the Rankin Mobile Homes team with the Morgan County Little League.
Virgil is survived by his wife, Betty Jean “BJ” Shambaugh Ruppenthal, at home, two children, Beverly Buzzerd and her husband, Todd and Todd Ruppenthal and his wife, Nina, two stepchildren, Connie Willey and her husband, Joe and Kevin Ridgeway and his wife, Wendy, two sisters, Ronnie Sue Childers and Judith Ann Young, one brother, Henry Martin Ruppenthal III, four grandchildren, Allison Buzzerd, Morgan Buzzerd, Andrew Ruppenthal and Katie Ruppenthal, three great-grandchildren, Haylee Waugh, Waylon McDonald and Gracelyn McDonald, four step grandchildren, Heather Hoover, Gretchen Shives, Brittany Harding and Shonda Clark, eight step great-grandchildren, Mitchell Shives, Connor Hoover, Brennan Hoover, Kai Clark, Andi Harding, Presley Clark, Rhyan Harding and Brian Bray, one godson, Bryce McCoy and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Lindsay Buzzerd and one stepson, Brian Ridgeway.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at the Abundant Life Full Gospel Pentecostal Church, 6250 Valley Road, Berkeley Springs, W.Va. Pastor Kaleb Trail will officiate. Burial will be private.
The family will receive friends from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. on Tuesday at Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 95 Union Street, Berkeley Springs, WV, where a Jr.O.U.A.M. service will be held at 6:30 p.m. A second visitation will be held one hour prior to services on Wednesday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Virgil’s memory may be made to the Abundant Life Full Gospel Pentecostal Church, c/o Building Fund, 6350 Valley Road, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.helsley johnsonfh.com.