Ralph Martin Huppert Sr.'s Obituary
Ralph M. Huppert
Federal Investigator
Ralph Martin Huppert, Sr. 83, of Ashburn, VA, died on August 20th 2012 due to congestive heart failure at home in Ashby Ponds of Ashburn, VA.He was born November 1st 1928 in San Francisco, CA the son of the late Henry Karl Huppert and Olga Marie nee Kahler.
Mr. Huppert attended elementary school in Millbrae, CA where he played the violin in the school orchestra. After graduation, he attended high school in Burlingame, CA where he lettered in basketball and track. He played trombone in the school's concert and marching band, in a combined Burlingame-San Mateo High Schools band and in a Boy Scouts of America band. He graduated from San Mateo Junior College, San Mateo, CA in June 1948 with an Associate in Arts degree and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in June 1951 from the University of California at Berkeley. As a graduate student at San Francisco State College, he earned a General Secondary Teaching Credential and was one of two students selected by the Ford Foundation for a full-time position as a teacher intern at a junior high school in Contra Costa County, CA. He earned a Master of Arts degree at George Washington University in Washington, D, C and was an ABD candidate for a doctorate in public administration at Southeastern NOVA University in Davie, FL.
Mr. Huppert served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was sent to the 3700th Air Force Indoctrination Wing, Lackland AFB and San Antonio, TX for processing and assignment, completed Basic Training in August 1951 and was assigned to the 1005th Inspector General Special Investigations Unit, Headquarters Command, USAF, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C., with permanent duty station at 4th OSI District, Bolling AFB, Washington, D. C. In February 1952, he was released to the 3303rd Training Squadron (Contract Flying), Bartow Field, Bartow, FL for primary pilot training as an Aviation Cadet. After 37 hours of flying time in a T6-G, he was eliminated because of a flying deficiency and reassigned to Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C. After completion of a nine-week Basic OSI Training Course, he was assigned to the San Francisco Detachment of the 19th OSI District, as a Special Agent. He remained there until June 1955 when he received an honorable discharge as a Staff Sergeant and transferred to the Air Force Reserve (Standby).
In 1957, he was hired as a special agent by the District Intelligence Officer, Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). 12th Naval District, San Francisco, CA. ONI, later renamed Naval Investigative Service [NIS], and now the Naval Criminal Investigative Service {NCIS]. In November 1957, he was appointed Lieutenant Junior Grade as an Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. In 1960, he transferred from NIS San Francisco to the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, London, England with duty as Resident Agent, U.S. Naval Air Station Kenitra, Morocco. In 1965, he was reassigned to the District Intelligence Officer, U.S. Naval Base, Norfolk, VA. He remained there until 1966 when he was recruited by Naval Task Force 157. After training in Area Studies at Fort Holobird, MD, he was assigned to West Berlin, Germany. He returned to CONUS in 1969. He was employed successively as a Special Agent, Branch Chief and Inspector by Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Agriculture. After retiring in December 1986, he spent the next ten years as a Case Review Officer at the headquarters of MSM Security Services of Greenbelt, MD.
Mr. Huppert was a member of Arthur T. Weed Lodge #59, AF & AM, Kenitra, Morocco; a life member of alumni associations of Burlingame High School and the University of California at Berkeley. He is a member of NCISA (Naval Criminal Investigative Service Association and Silver Wings Over Washington, D.C. His interests include golf, hunting, travel, classical music and genealogical research. He was a former member of Rod and Gun Clubs in Kenitra, Morocco, Berlin, Germany and the Marine Corps Base at Quantico, VA. He was also an active member of the American Yacht Club – Berlin, a long-time secretary and co-founder of Suburban Whitetail Management of Northern Virginia (SWMNV) and a one-time board member of Skyline House Condominium in Bailey's Crossroads, VA.
He is survived by his wife, the former Diana Marie Barnhart of Warrenton, VA, four children from his previous marriage to the late Nancy J. Brown Huppert: Mrs. Claudia Marie Benish (Ralph) of Sterling, VA, Mrs. Christine Vail Rollins (George) of Tempe, AZ, Ralph Martin Huppert II (Charisse) of Sterling, VA , Eric Andrew Huppert of Dale City, VA, Eight grandchildren, three great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. Mr. Huppert’s brother, Henry Richard Huppert, died in Mountain View, CA in 1996.
Graveside services will be held on January 17th 2013 at 11:00am in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.
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