Larry Rupp, 76, of Boone, NC went to be with The Lord on August 5, 2019. Shortly after being lifted up in scripture and song provided by family and friends, Larry gave up his struggle with cancer to join his eternal Savior.

Larry was an entrepreneur most of his life, concentrating in real estate investment and residential building for the better and the latter part of his career. Prior to that, he spent many years with his wife working as a missionary in Indonesia and Ethiopia before settling down in Kenya where they built Kajiado Children’s Home for orphaned children in 1997. He loved God, his grandkids, the kids at KCH, Ohio State football and his dog.  His friends know him as a caring man, but the direct and indirect impact of his life will go largely unknown in this world, as only God and those he helped will truly know.

Larry will be sadly missed by his surviving family and friends. Memorials may be mailed to Hope For Kajiado, 4009 Corning Place Dr., Suite E2-234, Charlotte, NC 28216 – or with a credit card online here.

We met Larry almost 40 years ago at Plaza Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC, before he began his missionary work in Africa.  We reconnected in 2007, and he told us of his experiences in Africa and the orphanage he founded in 1996 starting with 30 children under 12 years old.  In 2008, Larry spoke at Cook’s Church in Charlotte. Several people were blessed to become more heavily involved in supporting the home, forming Hope For Kajiado in 2014 as a non-profit organization to carry on Larry’s work in East Africa. Working with churches in NC, OH, PA and FL, as well as many individuals from those communities, we have ensured these children have an opportunity to become independent and productive citizens.  The children at KCH will tell you that “Papa Larry” told them to “Put God first, then get a good education, and the rest will come.”  Over the years, he reminded us more than once, that we needed to “get out of the way” so we could see the doors that God opened for us.  We certainly could not do this important work without God’s guidance. Since Hope For Kajiado was formed, many improvements have been made, including a deep-water well, a multipurpose building named “Rupp Hall” and a second greenhouse through generous grants and donors. Each year, the home rescues additional children. In 2019 in started an Outreach Program to provide support for children who lost one parent (called single orphans), so that the child can remain in their home. These are children who otherwise would not have enough food or access to education and medical care. Today, KCH supports over eighty children from 3years old through primary and secondary school. As a testament to the success of the home, over seventy children growing up at KCH have graduated college since it was founded. I am thankful to Larry for the influence he had on hundreds of children at Kajiado Children’s Home, and we are truly blessed for the friendships we developed with all of you, as we worked together for God’s purpose. Thank you.