Louis Joseph 'Zeke' Trupo
BRIDGEPORT — Mr. Louis Joseph Trupo, 97 years of age, of Bridgeport, WV, passed away on April 20, 2017, at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, WV, surrounded by his family. He was born June 19, 1919, in Clarksburg, WV, the son of the late Leonard and Domenica “Minnie” (Michele) Trupo.
He is survived by his wife, Flora Ada (Pinion) Trupo. They had celebrated 70 years of marriage. He is also survived by a daughter, Jona (Trupo) Michel and husband, Tom, of Bridgeport; two sons, Dr. Joe Trupo and wife Debbie of Elkins, and Louis Trupo, Jr. and wife, Tammy, of Columbus, OH; a special daughter, Michelle Brady; six grandchildren, Chris Trupo, Jaime Trupo, Heather (Trupo) Collier and husband Josh, Melissa (Michel) Rubi and husband Dr. Dionisio “Nicho,” Kristy (Michel) Marshall and husband Scott, and Lauren Trupo; nine great-grandchildren, Kirkland Pyles, Autumn Trupo, Sofia Rubi, Stella Rubi, Lucia Rubi, Austin Marshall, Alexis Marshall, Luca Collier and Eva Collier; one brother, L. Joe Trupo of Bridgeport; one sister, Francis (Trupo) McConchie of Lewes, DE; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Russell, and two sisters, Marie and Theresa.
“Zeke,” as he was known to many of his friends, was raised in the Adamston section of Clarksburg and graduated from Victory High School in 1937. He was active in many sports, including basketball, baseball and was runner-up in the West Virginia State High School Wrestling Championships.
While attending Salem College, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942. A veteran of World War II, Louis was a radio telephone communications specialist in the United State Marine Corps. He was wounded on the Island of Tinian by a sniper’s bullet, with wounds over his heart and right leg. A prayer missal and spoon that he carried in his pocket and his dog tags that hung around his neck deflected the bullet that otherwise would have struck his heart. He was recognized in “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” for this. He received a Purple Heart for bravery and wounds received in this battle. He returned to battle on Iwo Jima and was wounded by a mortar shell during the battle. He received a second Purple Heart for this battle. God answered his prayers and returned him home to his family.
Louis worked for Fourco Glass Company for 31 years as a maintenance foreman. He had strong values of giving back to his community. He was a founding member and President of the Harrison County Emergency Squad for two terms and a volunteer member for more than 12 years. He was a first aid instructor and an emergency medical technician. He was also a member of the Central WV Management Club and was past president of the Clarksburg Deanery N.N.C. Men. “Zeke” was first elected as justice of the peace and then continued as a Harrison County magistrate for 14 1/2 years before retiring. Louis was a member of Bridgeport City Council and past president of the Bridgeport Kiwanis Club. He was also a life member and past commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 418, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans. He was a member of All Saints Catholic Church in Bridgeport, where he served as an usher for over 50 years. Louis was proud of his Italian heritage and was recognized as the Italian Man of the Year in 2007.
He was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing golf. After retirement, he spent time taking long drives through the mountains of West Virginia with his wife, Ada. He enjoyed traveling, especially to Hawaii and his hometown in Italy. Zeke loved working in his garden, insisting that the yellow stripe tomatoes are the best. He was a loving family man. He delighted in his grandchildren, spoiling them with candy, doughnuts and report card money. Above all, Zeke will be remembered for his strong faith, love of family, generous spirit and service to his country.
Friends will be received at All Saints Catholic Church, 317 East Main Street, Bridgeport, WV, on Sunday from 2-8 p.m. A Vigil Service will be held in the church on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. A Catholic Funeral Liturgy will be on Monday, April 24, 2017 , in the church at 11 a.m. with Reverend Father Benedict Kapa and Reverend Father Hilarion V. Cann presiding. The interment will follow in the Bridgeport Cemetery, Bridgeport, WV. The Harrison County Honor Guard and the United States Marines Honor Guard will provide full military rites at graveside.
Condolences may be extended to the family at www.fordfuneralhomes.com.
The Trupo family has entrusted the care and arrangements to the Ford Funeral Home, 215 East Main Street, Bridgeport, WV.
Bridge on Lodgeville Road Renamed in Honor of Louis J. "Zeke" Trupo
By Julie Perine on September 12, 2013
Under a cloudburst, 94-year-old Zeke Trupo and his family stood under umbrellas along Lodgeville Road – at the site now officially known as the Louis J. “Zeke” Trupo Bridge.
The name may sound familiar. Bridgeport’s own Trupo has been recognized in “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” – and for a noble reason. In the Battle of Tinian during World War II, Trupo was hit by a sniper bullet, which had it not been deflected by a spoon in his pocket and his dog tags, would have struck his heart.
At an outdoor ceremony preceding the unveiling of the bridge’s new name, West Virginia House of Delegates member Richard Iaquinta read House Concurrent Resolution 78 stating why it is fitting and proper that Trupo’s lifetime of commitment and public service be recognized in the community in which he has lived and served.
Trupo was born in Clarksburg in 1919, the second son of six children of Italian immigrants, the late Leonard J. and Dominico Michelle Trupo. In 1937, he graduated from Clarksburg’s Victory High School, where he played basketball, baseball and football and was also a member of the school wrestling team.
He went on to attend Salem College until 1942, when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps., subsequently being wounded on the island of Timian and later by a mortar shell in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Trupo and his wife of 67 years, the former Ada Pinion, are the parents of Dr. Joseph and Debbie Trupo of Elkins, Mrs. Jona and Thomas Michael of Bridgeport and Louis Trupo Jr. of Columbus, Ohio. He was a maintenance foreman at Fourco Glass for 31 years and was also a public servant – being elected to serve as Harrison County Magistrate for 14 ½ years before retiring. Trupo subsequently served as a member of Bridgeport City Council.
He was a founding member and president of Harrison County Emergency Squad for two terms and a volunteer member for more than 12 years, serving as a first aid instructor and emergency medical technician.
Trupo’s service has also been civic in nature, Iaquinta said. He was a member of the Central West Virginia Management Club and past president of Bridgeport Kiwanis Club, among other civic involvement.
The resolution also stated that the West Virginia Division of Highways requested that signs be placed on the bridge to reflect its new name. After Trupo and his wife were presented with replicas of those signs to serve as keepsakes, the Trupos, their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and others attending the ceremony proceeded to the bridge site on Lodgeville Road.
But before that procession, Trupo took the floor and expressed his appreciation for what was taking place today. He also expressed appreciation for his long life and the service of 70,000 of his fellow U.S. Marines. He also reflected on 26,000 lives lost - and the protection he received while serving his country 69 years ago.
Trupo closed the bridge dedication by saying, “I never dreamed this would happen.”
Ada Trupo also thanked the West Virginia Legislature, West Virginia Department of Highways, Senator Sam Cann, attendees of today’s ceremony and all others affiliated with the honor bestowed upon her husband.