Deborah ‘Debbie’ Trupo

Debbie was born in Philippi, West Virginia, July 9, 1949, the daughter of the late Robert (Hardware Hank) Law and Leanna Law Eicher.

She is survived by her loving husband, Dr. Joe Trupo, whom she married Dec. 27, 1969. They had celebrated 53 years of marriage.

She leaves behind one son, Christian Trupo and fiance, Karen, of Fairmont, West Virginia; daughters, Jaime Korn and husband, Stephen Korn, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, and Heather Collier and husband, Joshua, of Elkins.

Left to cherish her memory are four wonderful grandchildren whom she dearly loved, Kirland Pyles and wife, Amanda, of Erie, Pennsylvania, Autumn Trupo of Texas and Luca and Eva Collier of Elkins.

Also surviving is one older brother, Robert Law and wife, Betsy, of Seymour, Tennessee.

Debbie grew up in the Broad Oaks addition of Clarksburg, West Virginia. She attended Washington Irving High School, but then moved and graduated from Bridgeport High School with the class of 1967.

This is where she met Joe Trupo, the love of her life. From there they ventured to Chicago, Illinois, while Joe attended Optometry School and she became a personal secretary for the CFO of Mercy Hospital. Next, their adventure took them to Randolph County, where they came to live for a year and forgot to leave. She then helped grow the Optometric Practice by working in the office and becoming such a big part of our community. Debbie loved her family, her faith and her community.

She was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, President of the Auxiliary to the West Virginia Optometric Association and a very active member of the United Way for many years. She was President of the Chamber of Commerce and selected as the Chamber Woman of the Year. She was strongly involved in the Mountain State Forest Festival for many years, serving as Director General in 1994. Debbie was the Director General responsible for bringing the Toronto Police Service Winged Wheels Precision Motorcycle Team to Elkins for the first of many years.

She was President of the Convention and Visitors Bureau and started the International Ramp Festival. She enjoyed many things throughout her life, quilting, sewing, horses, feeding and watching birds, squirrels and deer; sitting on her front deck listening to the sounds of the creek, but mostly her family. They were her greatest joy. She looked forward to holidays when all could join together. Her children and their spouses meant so much to her. She tried to be part of her older grandchildren’s lives as much as possible. She looked so forward to being part of her young grandchildren’s activities. She was the only one that was allowed to pick up her grandson Luca after school, which was her special time with him. She and granddaughter, Eva, played a game every morning on her way to school, calling one another peanut back and forth. These were the things that Debbie held deep within her heart and to be a part of her family’s memory and love for her. She loved her time spent in the family Florida home. She so enjoyed the warmth of the sunshine and the wonderful friendships made there over the past decade. She tolerated Joe’s passion for estate sales but because of her love for him she accompanied him with a big smile on her face. She touched the lives of so many people. She will certainly be remembered forever. But of all these things, her family and her God were the most central part of her life.

In honoring Debbie’s request, she will be cremated. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, at Saint Brendan Catholic Church in Elkins. A Vigil Service will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday from the church.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, at Saint Brendan Catholic Church with Rev. James E. O’Connor as the Celebrant.

Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities of Elkins, 1513 Harrison Ave., Suite C-10, Elkins, WV 26241 in memory of Debbie. The Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for Deborah “Debbie” Trupo.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.