Dr. Arthur G. Duppstadt

1924 - 2021

Dr. Arthur G. Duppstadt, 97, of South Leechburg, passed away Saturday, July 10, 2021, peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family. Born May 28, 1924, in Vandergrift, he was the son of the late Dr. Orlo A. Duppstadt and Fay (Glasgow) Duppstadt Goddard. Arthur was a 1942 graduate of Vandergrift High School. He briefly attended Bucknell University before enlisting in the Army Air Corps, where he served as a first lieutenant in the 355th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force from 1943-45. On Aug. 28, 1944, Arthur was shot down over German occupied France, and made his way back through the French Underground to Paris. He served as a fighter pilot instructor until his discharge. Arthur married the love of his life, Nancy, on Nov. 22, 1947. He came from a family of optometrists as his father, OA Duppstadt, and uncle, Robert Duppstadt, were both optometrists. Arthur graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1949, and opened his practice in Vandergrift and Leechburg, helping the community with their needs until his retirement in 2019. Arthur was always thinking of ways to improve things, and in doing so developed several optometric patents, including specialty bifocal contact lenses called the Panoramic D, and temple adjusting tools. His son, Arthur, and granddaughter, Natalie, have followed in the profession. Arthur took great pride in his legacy of community service. He was a visionary who saw things before their time and worked hard to convince others of giving your time and effort to make the community a better place to live. Oftentimes, a patient's appointment at the optometry office was capped off by a trip up the hill to see the Leechburg Recycling Center, for which he was the first president and instrumental in acquiring grants for the design and construction of the Recycling Center building. In October of 1987, Arthur was called to Harrisburg to receive the prestigious Governor's Waste Minimization Award for his work in recycling. As a community leader, Arthur was the first president of the Lower Kiski Ambulance Service, and served on the board for many years. He was a member of the Leechburg Rotary Club for 72 years, where he served as president, and was the multi-time recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship. Arthur was also a member of the Roaring Run Watershed Association, and received their first Environmentalist of the Year Award. He served on the Penn State New Kensington Advisory Committee and was a past chairman and member emeritus of the board. Arthur was a life member of the Vandergrift American Legion, the VFW Post 566, and the Apollo Elks. He enjoyed playing tennis, skiing, golfing and traveling, and took great pride in working on many projects around his farm. Arthur and Nancy traveled to the Florida Keys every winter, and spent many years enjoying their home in Topsail Island, N.C. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 72 years, Nancy Jane (Cowan) Duppstadt, who passed away on April 11, 2020; son, Todd Cowan Duppstadt; sister, Jean Fay Greenlee; brother-in-law, Samuel J. Greenlee; and great-nephew, David M. Greenlee. Arthur is survived by his sons, Dr. Arthur Orlo (Peg) Duppstadt and Dennis George (Melani) Duppstadt; daughter, Sue Duppstadt (James) Haugh; grandchildren, Dr. Natalie Jane (Eric Harris) Noble, James Duppstadt Haugh, Shane Patrick Haugh, Dr. Kayli Jane Duppstadt, Benjamin Arthur Duppstadt and Jacob Todd Duppstadt; great-granddaughter, Zoe Jane Harris; and several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews, including Samuel J. Greenlee, Daniel F. Greenlee, David J. Greenlee and Janie Fay Greenlee Steber and their families. A celebration of life tribute service to honor the lives of both Arthur and Nancy will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 31, 2021, in the CURRAN-SHAFFER FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY INC., 100 Owens View Ave., Apollo. Friends will be received from 9 a.m. until the hour of service at the funeral home. Following the services, military honors will be accorded by the Vandergrift Veterans Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Arthur memory to the Vandergrift Meals on Wheels, 167 Lincoln Ave., Vandergrift, PA 15690, or to the Roaring Run Watershed Association, P.O. Box 333, Apollo, PA 15613. To send an online condolence to the family, please visit www.curranfuneralhome.com.