Beverly Joan Upperman

“Into the everlasting” – Emily Dickinson

Beverly Joan Upperman, 75, of Delaware, Ohio, passed away on May 29, 2025. Bev was born on December 31, 1949, to Robert Hanson and Joan Stainer in Columbus, Ohio. Bev met Bruce Upperman in Columbus, Ohio and they married on May 9, 1972. After battling with ALS, Bruce preceded Bev in death on October 22, 2014. Bev and Bruce went on to raise four children, John (Amy) Upperman; Justus (Joan) Upperman; Jessic (Shelly) Upperman; and Megan (Michael Jungers) Upperman. Bruce often shared with family and friends that in high school he would watch Bev from the bleachers and swore she was clumsy enough she could trip over the lines of a basketball court. She carried this innate ability throughout her life attributing to many humorous family memories about her clumsiness and her sense of humor allowed her to laugh at herself and make those around her laugh with her. Throughout Bev and Bruce’s life together, they lived in Columbus, OH, Arlington, TX, Decatur, IL, Troy, IL, Belleville, IL, and St. Louis, MO. After Bruce passed away, Bev went on to live in Clayton, NC and Delaware, OH. Bev was a devoted wife and mother who chose to be a stay at home Mom to raise her four children. Despite the demands of raising three boys and a daughter, her home was always very well decorated and tidy. She loved to sew, decorate and eventually took up quilting and made special quilts for her children and grandchildren. Bev is survived by her four children, her two sisters Chris (Thomas) Berridge and Joy (Steve) Valentine, her nine grandchildren Alex (Shauna) Upperman, Jessica (Lance) Herring, Jennifer Upperman, Seth Upperman, Luke Upperman, Riley Upperman, Drew Upperman, Tessa Upperman, Cooper Upperman and two great-grandchildren Truett Upperman and Auggie Upperman.

Bev often said it was difficult for her to gain the confidence to meet new people; however, she often managed to make lasting friendships when the opportunity presented itself, even if she only interacted with someone briefly. She was loved dearly by family and friends.

Cremation arrangements have been performed by Shaw-Davis Funeral Home 34 W 2nd Ave. Columbus, OH 43201. Bev will have a cremation plaque next to her husband at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, MO.

Please join us in celebrating Bev's life on August 9, 2025. Time and place to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) organization.

A BIRD IN THE MIST

At times like this,

We may look through books for the perfect words

To give form to our feelings,

Make the thing complete,

Set the matter at rest.

Yet, in hours of searching,

Each piece lies rejected - too precise, too difficult, too sweet,

Too harsh, implying what we do not wish to say.

But, look into the grey wide sky,

And the thoughts will come like this:

Remember me when I loved you most and you loved me most.

Remember me when I was my bravest and I did you right.

Then, let that be our secret bond

And, let us rise in the morning and enjoy the light

And know that the bird in the mist is returning to the sun.

(Anonymous)