Leon Ralph Shuping

Leon Ralph Shuping, 79, of Morganton, NC died Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at his residence. Born September 6, 1934 in Burke County, NC, he was a son of the late Paul Alexander Shuping and Louise Ross Shuping. Leon was a Salem High School graduate and a retired route man with Holiday Laundry and Dry Cleaners. He was a member of First Baptist Church and was an avid gardener and woodworker.Surviving to cherish his memory are his wife of 59 years, Verna Dean Burgess Shuping; daughters, Elizabeth Shuping Silvey and husband, Mark of Morganton and Debbie Shuping Smith of Goldsboro; grandchildren, Kathryn Silvey Long and her husband, Jason, of Morganton, Robin Smith of Goldsboro, NC, and Christopher Smith of Goldsboro; brothers, Paul Shuping of Rock Hill, SC and Robert Shuping of Morganton; a sister, Carolyn Matthews and her husband, Jack, of Rock Hill, SC; sisters-in-law, Faye Burgess of Morganton and Emily Nestor and her husband, Steve, of Vale; a special niece, Kayla Mills of Morganton; and special friends and neighbors, Chris and Melissa Leonhardt of Morganton, Alison Hall of Goldsboro, and Pat Denton of Morganton.The funeral will be held at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, September 19, 2013 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center with the Rev. Kelvin Gurley and Dr. Thomas A. Bland, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in the Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2:00 until 3:30 p.m. prior to the service.Memorial contributions may be made to A Better Life Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 8311, Morganton, NC 28680 or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690.