Former Wasilla mayor Rupright dies at 72

WASILLA, Alaska (KTUU) – The former mayor of Wasilla Verne Rupright died on May 26 at the age of 72, according to family and friends.

Rupright was born in Massachusetts and moved in Alaska in 1976, according to an obituary. He was mayor of the Mat-Su city from 2008 to 2014.

Rupright was a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam before joining the Alaska National Guard, eventually serving as the Captain of the 9th Armored Cavalry.

He held a number of positions and was a pillar of the community, including working as part of the Laborer’s Union, Mat-Su School District Advisory Board, State of Alaska’s Bureau of Land Management border, National American Legion and Red Cross Leadership council.

Bernadette “Bee” Rupright, the former mayor’s wife, said there’s tremendously more about her husband than she could fit in an obituary.

“He loved his country,” Bee said. “He loved his nieghbors. His whole life he served his community and that was him. That was my husband. I married him because he was the knight in shining armor that people dream about, in looks you know, and of course we were married a long time. His whole life, that part of him, it never dulled.”

A memorial service will be held at the Wasilla VFW post on June 9 at 2 p.m. Those who want to give flowers can send them to Flowers By Louise in Wasilla.

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