Harvey Cupp's Obituary
Harvey L. Cupp, Jr., age 88,of Lewes, Delaware, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 18, 2006.
Born in Richmond, Virginia, on November 29,1918, Harvey moved with his family to Mifflintown, Pennsylvania in 1926 where his father and uncles operated the local Ford dealership, Cupp Motors.
Harvey graduated with honors from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelors degree in Aeronautical Engineering in June of 1940. At Pitt, Harv participated in the Reserve Officer Training Corps where he was the Cadet Colonel of the ROTC Battalion.
After college, he secured a position with the Engineering Department of the Naval Aircraft Factory in August 1940. He worked as an Engineer in the Power Plant Section until April of 1942. He accepted his Army Commission in Coast Artillery. Harvey served with anti-aircraft and infantry units in the African and European Theatres for the next three and one-half years. Harvey participated in the African and Italian campaigns. During his time in the European theater, he flew on bombing missions using his engineering expertise to improve performance and safety. For his war-time service he was awarded a Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge and Bronze Star.
Harvey married Marna Rose McGarraugh on September 1, 1945.
As a civilian, Harvey returned to his position at the Naval Air Engineering Factory. Over the years Harvey moved up through the ranks to serve as Superintendent of the Aircraft, Weapons and Ship Division and retired in 1975 as acting chief engineer of the Naval Air Engineering Center. During his career, Harvey also served in Brussels as Technical Representative to NATO on aircraft operations from ships. In this role, he helped standardize helicopter and aircraft operations from ships of the Dutch, French, British and Belgian fleets.
Following retirement, Harvey and Marna moved to Lewes, Delaware from their home in Pine Ridge, Media, PA. The small town atmosphere helped Harvey relax as he brought a wealth of organizational knowledge to several volunteer jobs including serving the Town as Chair of the Board of Adjustment and serving the Lewes Historical Society as a docent for the maritime museum. Harvey was very active in St. Peters Church and for many years managed the church cemetery.
Harvey was an avid model railroader and shared his knowledge freely. He and his friend, Wayne Ledum, the owner of Creative Concepts Furniture, developed an extensive layout. Over the years, Harvey was active in Aircrafters, the Naval Civilian Management
Association.
March of 2002, the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering recognized Harvey with a Distinguished Alumni Award. Given Harvey's strong belief in education, his daughter, Marna, established a scholarship in his name in the School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. This scholarship became a fond project of Harv and his family.
The family of Harvey wishes to express their appreciation to Dr. Kevin Fox and associates of the University of Pennsylvania Hospital (HUP) for all the years of quality life due to their treatments of his cancer since 1988.
Harvey was predeceased by his sister, Eleanor Renninger.
In addition to his wife of 61 years, Harvey is survived by three children Marna C. Whittington of Wilmington, De and her husband Thomas D. Whittington, Marilynn C.Goebel and her husband, Paul D. Goebel of Media, PA and David E. Cupp of West Chester, PA and his wife Linda M. Cupp; a brother, David B. Cupp and Marilyn of Ohio, a sister Margaret C. Chandler and Leonard of Hockessin, DE. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Marna A. McDermott and husband Tom of Washington, DC and Sarah I. Whittington, of Boston, Massachusetts and a great grand daughter Marna Delaney MCDermott..
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Monday, October 23, 2006, at 11 :00 A.M., in St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Second & Market Streets, Lewes, Delaware. Burial will be private
.
Please omit flowers. Memorials may be made to St. Peters Episcopal Church 2nd & Market Streets Lewes, DE 19958
Delaware Hospice 20167 Office Circle Georgetown, DE 19947-
Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes, DE
online condolences may be sent to parsellfuneralhomes.com
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