Rupert Tyler Ferrell
Rupert T. "Duke" Ferrell died on July 6, 2012 at his home in South Bend at age 95. He was born August 12, 1916 in New Albany, IN to his parents, John Wesley Ferrell and Viola Tyler Ferrell. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, William, John, and Glenn, and a sister, Mary Louise Brown.
On July 28, 1939, he married Beatrice Bradley in Edinburgh, IN. They celebrated 72 years of marriage in 2011.
He is survived by his wife and two sons, Richard (Melanie), of Norwich, VT and John (Janet) of Montgomery Village, MD. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Catherine Ferrell of Norwich, VT, Elisabeth (Joshua) Horan of Thetford, VT, Anne Ferrell of Brooklyn, NY, Brian Ferrell of San Diego, CA, and Tyler Ferrell of Denver, CO. There are three great-grandsons: Anthony Correa and Julián Correa of Norwich, VT and Peter Horan of Thetford, VT.
Duke attended schools in New Albany and Paoli, IN, where he graduated from high school in 1934. He graduated from Franklin College in 1939. He received a Masters Degree in Education from Indiana University in 1949.
He played basketball in high school and at Franklin College. As a junior at Franklin, he was named to the 1938 Indianapolis Star Indiana All-Star College Basketball Team.
In 1939 at Franklin College he won the Klyver-Sundvall Trophy for scholar-athlete of the year.
Duke served in the United States Navy in World War II. He was commissioned Ensign in May, 1943, and trained for naval service at Princeton University, at Fort Schuyler, NY, and at the Navy Amphibious Training School, Solomons, MD.
He served as navigator of LST 517, Flagship of LST Flotilla 17 at Juno Beach, Normandy, June 6, 1944.
Duke taught social studies and coached several sports at Orleans High School, Orleans, IN from 1939-1941, and then did likewise in South Bend at Lincoln Junior High School and Riley High School, 1941-1943. At Riley he was an assistant coach of football and basketball and was head baseball coach. One of his students was Bob Rush who later pitched for the Chicago Cubs.
After discharge from the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant (jg) in 1946, he served as Assistant Director of the Physical Education Department of South Bend School City from 1946-1949 and as Principal of Thomas Jefferson Junior High School from 1949-1953. He was Principal of Central High School from 1954 to 1964. He was Assistant Superintendent and Director of Personnel for the South Bend schools from 1964 until he retired in 1978.
Duke then began a second career as a watercolorist. He studied at 25 water color workshops around the country and received several awards for his art. He taught a watercolor class at the South Bend Public Library on South Miami Street.
He also served the South Bend community as president of the South Bend/Mishawaka Campfire Girls and as president of the South Bend Exchange Club.
He was a member Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Franklin College, Northern Indiana Artists, Inc., The South Bend Museum of Art, the St. Joseph Valley Watercolor Society, the Indiana Retired Teachers Association, and the First United Methodist Church of South Bend.
Memorial services for Duke will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, August 12th in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 N. William St. with Rev. Mary Hubbard officiating. The family will receive friends in the funeral home on that date from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the memorial service.
Memorial donations could be considered for the First United Methodist Church, 333 N. Main St., South Bend, IN, 46601, Grace Hospice, 5838 W. Brick Road, Suite 106B, South Bend, IN 46628, or another charity of choice.
Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com.
Charitable donations may be made in Rupert's memory to the following organizations:
First United Methodist Church
333 N. Main St., South Bend, IN, 46601
Grace Hospice
5838 W. Brick Road, Suite 106B, South Bend, IN 46628
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