In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 68 years, Paul Burns Ruppard, her brother Charles Triplett, her brother Benny Triplett and his wife Carol, her daughter-in-law Nola Ruppard, and her sister-in-law Patricia Triplett.
Dorothy was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a lifelong member of Setzer's Creek Baptist Church. She and her husband Paul were the first couple married at the church's current location.
She and her husband served as volunteers for Samaritan's Purse. They supported the NC Baptist Men Disaster Relief. They were on the ground outside the Pentagon on 9/12. Dorothy also served at the Lenoir Soup Kitchen weekly.
Left to cherish Dorothy's memory are her four sons: Ronnie Ruppard of Rutherford College, Michael Ruppard of McLeansville, Tony Ruppard and wife Angie of Hudson, and Marshall Ruppard and wife Gina of Lenoir; her brother: Jerry Triplett of Hudson; three grandchildren: Hayley Denton and husband Aaron of Charlottesville, VA, Sara Beth Broyhill and husband Jeb of Wilkesboro, and Anna Lee Ruppard of Durham; two great-grandchildren: Miles and Logan Denton.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at Setzer's Creek Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Chris Kirby and Rev. Raymond Spann. A private burial will take place at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Lenoir following the service. Family members will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service, from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm at the Setzer's Creek Baptist Church.
Pendry's Lenoir Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Dorothy Jeanette Ruppard.
