NORTH PORT, FL – Shirley Ann Rupp, former fleet manager at Elmhurst Dodge in Elmhurst, Ill., passed away Dec. 17 from lung-related health problems with her family by her side. She was 82.

Rupp's career in fleet began in the late '60s/early '70s with Don Fenton at Long Chevrolet in Elmhurst, Ill. She later moved on to Elmhurst Dodge as fleet manager, where she worked until her retirement.

"Shirley was a pioneer of the fleet industry," said family friend Stevie Sussman, fleet operations manager at Grossinger Fleet Sales.

"She was a person I like[d] a lot. It's sad to learn of her passing," said Ed Bobit, chairman of Bobit Business Media and editor and publisher of Automotive Fleet.

Rupp is survived by her husband of 62 years, Daniel; children, Debbie (Pete) Blume, Scott (Catherine) Rupp, and Tracey (Kent) Kammann; ten grandchildren, Ryan (Chloe), Brianna, and Rory Blume, Timothy, Lindsey, Natalie, Gregory, and Daniel Rupp, Caitlin and Kelsey Arnony; and nephew, Skip (Shelly) Holmstrom.

A memorial luncheon will be held at 11 a.m. at the La Casa Clubhouse in North Port on Saturday, Dec. 20 and a service is being planned in January in Addison, Ill. Her family can be reached at dfrupp1@aol.com.

Donations in memory of Shirley Rupp may be made to:

TideWell Hospice & Palliative Care

1751 Mound St # 101

Sarasota, FL 34236

(941) 487-3100