Terry Ruppel, 1950-2026

Terry Lynn Ruppel passed away at his home in Eugene, Oregon, on September 28, 2026. He was a hilarious friend to everyone he knew and met, and a renowned furnituremaker and educator. He was born in Torrance, California, on Jan 14, 1950, the second of four children; in high school, he lettered in 3 sports: basketball, baseball, and track and field. He also sang in the choir and worked at Busey Bank. After graduating high school in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve during the Vietnam era; he met Lianne at 19 and married her at 22, they were together for 57 years (?!).

Attending college at the University of Illinois, he discovered his love and talent at woodworking and became a high school teacher for several years in Aiken, SC, and Groton, Massachusetts. He was every student’s favorite teacher.

Franklin, Tennessee life followed for 30 years where Terry made furniture and exhibited his craft regionally, received awards and national commissions, appeared on HGTV Modern Masters TV show, as well as Tennessee Crossroads.

There they raised two wonderful, successful and, most importantly, good looking children, Ross and Amanda.

Later in his career, he directed a school for the building trades and was a consultant to the Tennessee Department of Education. In that capacity, he became a highly requested speaker in Tennessee prisons for his impassioned belief that anyone, no matter what their past, can change their life for the better.

He enjoyed tennis, fishing and golfing; kayaking the Caney Fork, Piney, and Duck rivers; cooking, hosting, and eating; coaching basketball, travel, his rescue dog Natron, and most of all, his grand girls: Ellie, Jojo, and Luci. The family will have a private celebration of life where anyone who knew him is invited to float the Duck River on Father’s Day 6/20/27 (details TBD).

In his honor, please make any and all donations to your grand children’s college funds, or to the public school of your choice.

And remember anytime you have to wake up extra early, it’s to go fishin’; anytime you’re sick and have to miss school or work, it’s because you have a math test; don’t forget to lecture, after-lecture, and post-after-lecture your kids on their choices; and play “get”-the-guy-what’s-gots-it with them; throw your old broken tools up in the tree; and for god’s sake, shut up and go to sleep!