The Shadow
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George St. Clair “Buck” Rumpf, 86, of 620 Commer-cial Ave., Clifton Forge, cast his last shadow on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at his home with his family by his side.
He was born in Clifton Forge on November 6, 1926, the youngest son of his parents, the late John Henry and Alma St.Clair Rumpf.
Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1945 during his senior year at Clifton Forge High School, he received his diploma in the mail while he was stationed in Luzon in the Philippines, where he received a commendation from Lt. Gen. Styer for his work in the printing plant and publications depot as a Photostat operator and repairman of Photostat machinery that needed adjustments.
After his discharge from the Army, Buck returned to Clifton Forge where he worked for the C&O Railroad for one year before beginning his 66-year-long newspaper career with the Daily Review Newspaper. He started with the paper as an apprentice, became a pressman, linotype operator, advertising manager and also publisher of a Saturday Publication known as the Highlander, which was delivered to every household free of charge.
While employed at the Daily Review, Buck, along with Joe Peaco, became the co-owners of Standard Printing Company located beside Smith Creek beneath the present Sona Bank parking lot. He later moved the company to a building on Ridgeway Street that he bought from the Otto brothers. He continued to run Standard Printing until it was sold to Jim Garcia and Rick Jessee on Nov. 1, 1984.
Buck was instrumental in negotiating the sale of the Daily Review Newspaper to the Covington Virginian newspaper, which became the Virginian Review newspaper in 1989. He agreed to work for Publisher and Editor Horton Beirne for one year as staff writer and reporter. That one year turned into 23 years before his retirement on November 3, 2012, when he gave up his column “The Shadow” and ended his coverage of the Clifton Forge and Iron Gate Town Council meetings.
He was a longtime member of the Central Advent Christian Church, serving for many years on the official church board as a steward of the church, and presently as a trustee of the church.
He had a vision for the church to continue to grow and prosper for the good of the congregation and the Lord. He was especially proud of his work on the Advent Christian Cemetery Board, serving for more than 40 years as treasurer, completing this responsibility with the late Herman Vess.
Buck worked tirelessly with Virginia State Delegate Rick Boucher and the Virginia Forestry Service, pushing a bill through Congress to give forestry land between Interstate 64 and the Big Rock Church property to the church to increase the size of the cemetery.
Buck was the last surviving charter member of the Sharon Ruritan Club with 51 years of membership, during which time he was responsible for securing the land and building where the club meets today.
Over the years he served the club numerous times as president and vice president. He also served as governor for the Natural Bridge District, and as District and Local Publicity chairman, currently reporting on Ruritan events and meetings. His interest in community service is readily seen in the many projects he initiated and supported through the Ruritan Club.
He was a member of VFW Post 4299 Burnside Carpenter for many years. In addition to enjoying the camaraderie of fellow VFW members, he wanted everyone in the Highlands to appreciate the sacrifices of veterans. He was the news and information officer of Post 4299, taking care of public relations and reporting on all post activities.
As a native of Clifton Forge, he wanted the town and county to prosper and his interest in the community was well known throughout the Alleghany Highlands.
He served for many years with the Clifton Forge Retail Merchants Association and currently served as 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 the Scott Hill Retirement Center.
He was also a member of the Clifton Forge Masonic Lodge No. 166 AF & AM, the Kazim Temple Shrine, and the Clifton Forge Shrine Club.
On the lighter side of his affiliations was the Clifton Forge Coffee Club. He thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie of the club members and expressing his opinions, making light of his “Verge Street origin and 70 IQ.”
Mainly he enjoyed picking up facts and rumors to be used in his weekly newspaper column “The Shadow.” He often caused quite a stir when those rumors were actually publicized, but his rationale was that he wanted the people of the Highlands to be informed of any and all news that affected the community.
Among the many awards that he received, he was especially proud of being named the Elk’s Citizen of the Year for his outstanding public relations work.. He was also recognized by the Clifton Forge Town Council and given the Key to the Town of Iron Gate for his many years of reporting their council meetings.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Harry, John and William (Bill) Rumpf; four sisters, Faunie Rumpf Hirsh, Margaret Rumpf Molar, Melba Rumpf Pursley and Ellen Rumpf; and a great-grandson, Ian Pound.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary Kathleen “Katty” Campbell Rumpf; two daughters, Linda Rumpf Archer and husband John of Appomattox, and Nancy Rumpf Pound of Clifton Forge; four grandchildren, Sharrie Pound Woodzell and husband Tony of Warm Springs, Heather Archer Eastep and husband Daniel of Dunn Loring, Travis Pound and wife Jen of Ashland, and John-Michael Archer and wife Kim of Chattanooga. He is also survived by eight great-grandchildren, Cody Woodzell, Leah and Sophie Pound, and Eli, Peyton and Jackson Archer, Owen and Elyse Eastep; and step great-grandchildren, Jayden and Jorden Finch.
A celebration of Buck’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the Central Advent Christian Church in Clifton Forge with the Reverend Louis Dodd, the Reverend Gene Peters, and the Reverend Derek Irvine Officiating.
Interment will follow at the Advent Christian Cemetery with graveside military honors provided by the Burnside Carpenter VFW Post 4299.
Active pallbearers will be Travis Pound, John-Michael Archer, Tony Woodzell, Dan Eastep, Mark Knick, Wesley Knick, Kevin Campbell and Steve Campbell.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the VFW Post 4299 and the Clifton Forge Coffee Club.
The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Nicely Funeral Home in Clifton Forge and at other times at their family residence 620 Commercial Ave. Clifton Forge.
The family suggests that memorial tributes take the form of contributions in his memory to the Sharon Ruritan Club c/o David Nicely 511 Wintergreen Ave, Clifton Forge, Va., 24422, or the Burnside Carpenter VFW Post 4299 P.O. Box 182, Clifton Forge, Va., 24422.
To send a condolence to the family online please visit www.nicelyfuneralhom-e.com.
