Richard Gabriel Stoeppler

Richard Gabriel “Gabe” Stoeppler, 80, passed away on Jan. 1, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, MaryAnne; son Michael and wife Amanda; daughter Kristina and husband Michael; and grandchildren, Ella, Wade, Liam, Eric, and Trey. He was preceded in death by his brother, Carl John.

Born to Carl and Marie (Monetti) Stoeppler on May 4, 1942, in the Bronx borough of New York, Gabe earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Economics from the City University of New York, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Dallas, a Master of Professional Accounting from Clemson University, and was a Certified Public Accountant.

He served as a decorated Captain in the United States Army 196th Light Infantry Brigade from 1968-1970 during the Vietnam War. There he met MaryAnne McIntyre – an Army nurse — when he was injured during the conflict. The two were married in 1971.

Gabe spent 25 years in executive leadership where he always made a point to mentor his junior colleagues. His passion for helping others succeed eventually brought him to the world of teaching. He spent 21 years sharing his wealth of knowledge as a professor of accounting at Limestone College, until his retirement in 2013. He received numerous awards for excellence in teaching, garnering unanimous praise from his students and wide respect from his colleagues. He served as Chair of the Department of Business, Economics, and International Studies, and was granted the status of Associate Professor Emeritus of Business Administration upon retirement.

Those who knew him admired Gabe’s wisdom, thoughtfulness, and compassion. An ordained elder with the Presbyterian Church, Gabe sought to live his faith authentically by uplifting those around him. He shared his faith with inmates as an active volunteer with the Kairos Prison Ministry. Additionally, he was an active volunteer and board member of JumpStart, where he worked to help former inmates land on their feet upon release.

He was driven by a steadfast determination to make a difference in the lives of everyone he encountered – even if only through a simple smile and friendly conversation. His calm leadership style guided others toward a better path, and his kind heart and strength of character made him a cherished family member, friend, and pillar of the community. Many were touched by Gabe’s generosity over the years, and although he will be dearly missed, his legacy will endure through those he inspired along the way.

A memorial will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21, at Second Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with receiving of family and friends at 9:30 a.m. and services at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to JumpStart (https://www.jumpstartvision.org/) and Second Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg SC (http://www.secondspartanburg.org/).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mackeycenturydrive.com for the Stoeppler family.