Kenneth James "Shorty" Cupp , 88, of South Whitley, passed away at 2:54 p.m. Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, IN.

Ken was born March 23, 1936, in Knoxville, TN, to the late James Harry Cupp (d. 1967) and Lucy Ella Beeler (d. 1989).  His formative years were spent in Knoxville until 1947, when the family moved to Fort Wayne, IN.  He attended North Side High School.

Ken had a newspaper route, caddied at the Elks Country Club, pumped gas, and washed windows at Doty's Service Station. He was also a volunteer firefighter and a lineman for the phone company, and he operated a CB radio repair shop and worked for Fruehauf Trucking. He got his GED in 1967 and began working for General Electric in Fort Wayne, IN, until he retired in 1991 after 24 years of service. He continued working independently driving highway wide load escort known as Shorty's Flag Car Service.

On August 26, 1989, he married Karen Louise Clark.  They have always made their home in rural South Whitley.

Ken enjoyed fishing, motorcycling, and playing guitar his whole life, even fronting a classic country band, KC & Company.  Ken's friends and family will miss his humor and spunk, as well as his loyalty and good-hearted nature.

Ken is survived by his wife Karen; his son, Edward (Lynn) of Cave City, AR; a step-son Cory Clark of South Whitley; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sisters, Shirley Ann (Cupp) Burgess of Fort Wayne, IN, and E. Doreen (Mark) Muntzinger of Roanoke, IN; a brother, Richard Lee (Patricia Jane) Insley of Fort Wayne, IN; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Tonya (Cupp Eiler) Dunn (d. 2021), and a grandson, Benjamin Eiler (d. 1989).

Visitation is from noon until 2 p.m. on Thursday (Feb. 20th) at Smith & Sons Miller Chapel, South Whitley.  Burial will follow at the South Whitley Cemetery.

Memorials in Shorty's honor are to final expenses c/o Smith & Sons Funeral Home.