Community Corner

A 'Light To Our World': Services Planned For Ashburn's Gavin Rupp, 13

Ashburn hosts vigil Wednesday for teen who inspired Bryce Harper; Gavin Rupp will be celebrated this week in Virginia, with another celebration and burial to follow in Ohio.

The family of Gavin Rupp, 13, the Ashburn boy who this week lost his battle with brain cancer, has set a visitation and service "to celebrate Gavin's sweet life."

The rising eighth-grader at Eagle Ridge, an aspiring baseball player Washington Nationals player Bryce Harper called his "hero," will be celebrated both in Ashburn and in Ohio, where he was born.

A visitation is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at Crossroads United Methodist Church, 43454 Crossroads Drive, Ashburn, VA, according to Rupp's parents and the Loudoun Funeral Chapel, which is coordinating local celebrations.

The family plans to have another visitation and service in Portsmouth, OH, with burial on Tuesday morning, according to a Facebook post by Gavin's mother, Sandy Rupp.  
The family will receive friends between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Evangelical United Church of Christ, 701 Fifth Street, Portsmouth, OH, according to the LFC. Funeral services will follow at 6 p.m., and burial will take place Tuesday in Tyn Rhos Cemetery in Rio Grande, Ohio.

Chris Rupp, Gavin's father, wrote in a post on a tribute page to his son that he and Sandy are "overwhelmed with the support and love shown to us through texts, emails, posts, calls, etc."

"We are so touched by what we have been able to see and want you all to know how much it means to us and how much we wish we could respond individually to you all, right away. Gavin has been such a light to our world, and for that, we can smile today," he wrote.

On Wednesday night, friends and family packed Eagle Ridge Middle School, where Gavin would have been an eighth grader this fall. He was set to turn 14 on Sept. 24.

"The legacy of your son speaks volumes," one woman wrote after the event. "What an amazing boy with obvious wonderful parents. Our heart's pour love and sadness for your family. The community is [grieving] his wonderful soul and we will continue to play and pray for your beautiful family. Gone but never ever forgotten."

Ashburn Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.



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