Karl Maxwell Ruppenthal, born in Russell, Kansas on October 5, 1917, died peacefully after a short illness, in Oakland, CA, on January 13, 2013, surrounded by his family. His parents were John Philip Ruppenthal & Ollie Viola Whitaker Ruppenthal.
Karl is survived by his wife Josephine Maxon, daughter Sara Katz, sons Stephen and Brian Ruppenthal, grandsons Julian Katz and Rama Ruppenthal, granddaughters Heather Katz and Molly Getty, and six great grandchildren. He is also survived by nephew Dennis Lewis, and nieces Sandy Ledbetter, Pam Lewis, Susan Pierce, Nancy Ruppenthal, Nikki Summers, Vicki Stachura and Janet Weldon, as well as many Ruppenthal cousins.
He was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Alice (nee Autio), his brothers Wayne, Hal and Art, and his sister Hazel Lewis.
Karl graduated in 1939 from Kansas University at Lawrence, where he played French Horn in the band. He earned his LL B at KU in 1941.
He learned to fly thru the Civilian Pilot Training Program and was hired by TWA’s Inter Continental Div in Kansas City.
Karl flew as a copilot on a secret mission to bring General and Madame Chiang Kai-shek from Chungking to Cairo to meet Roosevelt & Churchill in 1943. He wrote a book about that flight. (unpublished)
Karl flew with TWA 26 years, based in Palo Alto where he was also active in the City Council. In the early 1950s he was vice president of the Air Line Pilots Association. Karl earned his MBA at UC Berkeley, and his PhD at Stanford, where he taught in the Business School.
In the early 60s he co-founded with Gayton Germane The Transportation Management Program, which was held in various countries. Karl testified before Congress against allowing US airlines to build supersonic jets, for environmental and economic reasons.
Later he directed The Centre for Transportation Studies at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. He retired in 1983.
Karl married Josephine Maxon in 2000. They traveled extensively and enjoyed supporting the arts, particularly the Merola program for young opera singers.
Karl was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley (UUCB). A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, February 9, 4 pm at UUCB, One Lawson Road, Kensington CA 94707 510-525-0302
In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome at UUCB, or the Read-Aloud Volunteer Program: #5 Alvarado Square: San Pablo, CA 94806
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