The Shadow
Katty Rumpf and
the late Buck Rumpf
Katty Rumpf and
the late Buck Rumpf
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CLIFTON FORGE — Katty Rumpf has been named marshal for the 2013 Clifton Forge Christmas Parade, which will be held Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Clifton Forge Main Street Inc. named Rumpf as parade marshal in memory of her late husband, George “Buck” Rumpf, who died Oct. 26 at age 86.
“It is with great pride that we honor this generous and giving couple for the years they gave to the Alleghany Highlands,” said Debby Faulkenberry, spokeswoman for Clifton Forge Main Street.
The Rumpfs, lifelong residents of the Clifton Forge area, were married in 1947.
They spent countless hours volunteering their time to projects and programs that benefitted the Alleghany Highlands and Clifton Forge. They were both active in the Sharon Ruritan Club and Central Advent Christian Church.
After serving with the U.S. Army in the Philippines during World War II, Buck returned to Clifton Forge and began a 66-year career with community newspapers in Clifton Forge and Covington.
He worked for the Daily Review newspaper in Clifton Forge and joined the Virginian Review in 1989. He worked for the Covington-based newspaper for 23 years, covering Clifton Forge and Iron Gate, while writing “The Shadow,” a popular weekly column that centered on rumors and happenings in the Highlands. Buck retired in November 2012 on his 86th birthday.
He also co-owned Standard Printing Co. in Clifton Forge until 1984. Buck and his business partner, the late Joe Peaco, operated the printing business before selling it to Jim Garcia and Rick Jessee.
Prior to his ownership in Standard Printing, Buck and Kat operated a small printing business in the basement of their Cowpasture River Home. The business was known as Rumpf Printing and Kat assisted Buck by helping run the press and setting type on the hand-fed printer.
Buck was involved in several community organizations. He was a member of Clifton Forge Masonic Lodge No. 166, AF&AM, the Kazim Shrine Temple and the Clifton Forge Shrine Club.
Buck was also a member of Burnside-Carpenter Post No. 4299 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and helped coordinate publicity for the post for several years. He was honored by the Clifton Forge Elk’s Lodge by being named its Citizen of the Year for his public relations work.
As a member of the Clifton Forge Coffee Club, Buck routinely met with community leaders on weekday mornings to discuss happenings in the community and solve the world’s problems. It was at Coffee Club meetings that picked up many tidbits of information for his “Shadow” column.
Buck also served for many years with the Clifton Forge Retail Merchants Association. At the time of his death, he was a director and second vice president of the Clifton Forge Development Corporation and was a member of the Industrial Development Authority of Clifton Forge and a board member of Scott Hill Retirement Center.
After marrying Kat in 1947, Buck became an active member of Central Advent Church, east of Clifton Forge. The church is commonly known as “The Big Rock Church,” to local residents.
At Central Advent, Buck served as treasurer for 40 years and was a member of the church board. At the time of his death, he was serving as trustee. As a trustee, Buck worked closely with former Congressman Rick Boucher to orchestrate a land swap with the federal government that permitted the church to expand its cemetery.
Buck was the last surviving charter member of the Sharon Ruritan Club. He was a member of the Ruritan Club for 51 years and helped secure land for the club’s building. Over the years, he served as president and vice president of the club.
Kat worked with him in the club, by assisting with several fund raisers. She is well known for her fried apple pies, which were sold at the Ruritan trailer at festivals in the area.
In addition to his wife, Buck is survived by two daughters, Linda Archer of Appomattox and Nancy Pound of Clifton Forge. Linda retired as a teacher and Nancy retired from the Bath County school system.
Buck is also survived by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The theme of the 2013 Christmas Parade is “Home for the Holidays.”
