Dr. Lee F. “Joe” Dupler, 90, of Frankfort, passed away October 30, 2024 with his family by his side at St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana. He was born January 19, 1934 in San Diego, CA to Harley Harold & Laura Elizabeth (Wright) Dupler, where his father was stationed in the U.S. Marine Corp.  Dr. Dupler married Carol Jean Gaffney on December 29, 1955 at the First Christian Church in Frankfort and she survives.

Dr. Dupler was a 1951 graduate of Frankfort High School, where he was active in sports and was president of the Hi-Y Club.  He then graduated from Indiana University in 1955, and then graduated in 1958 from the I.U. School of Medicine.  He completed his residency in Methodist Hospital.  In 1961, he served in the U.S. Army as Captain at the Brooke Army Hospital Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX where he developed training curriculum for MASH units.  He received his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army as a Captain.

Dr. Dupler returned to Frankfort in 1964 and was an Internal Medicine Physician for almost 40 years.  Back in Frankfort, he became very active with the Clinton County Hospital and was instrumental in getting the hospital accredited with the State of Indiana, developed the first ICU in the county and worked on the Indiana State Board of Hospitals.  He was also a founding member of the Frankfort Medial Clinic, the first multispecialty clinic, serving the Frankfort community.

Dr. Dupler was active in the community.  He was a member of the Frankfort Rotary Club, where he was President in 1969, and was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.  Dr. Dupler was President of the Medical Staff and President of the Hospital Board of Directors, was a board member of the Clinton County Boys and Girls Club, and a member of the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church.  In 2023, he was inducted into the Frankfort High School Hall of Fame.

Visitation and Services

Visitation will be 4:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at Goodwin Funeral Home, 200 S. Main St., Frankfort. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at the funeral home. Kelly Kurth will officiate. Burial will follow in Green Lawn Memorial Park. Memorial donations in honor of Dr. Dupler can be made to the Clinton County Boys & Girls Club, P.O. Box 103, Frankfort, IN 46041 or the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 352 W. Clinton St., Frankfort, IN 46041.

Survived by:

wife: Carol J. Dupler of Frankfort, daughters: Laura A. (John) Neeb of Greenfield, Diane C. (Javier) Gonzalez of Richlands, NC, Jeanne L. (Shane) McMains of Cumming, GA, son: James F. (Elaine) Dupler of Zionsville, surviving brother: Murphy R. Dupler of Wallace, Michigan, 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Preceded by:

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Jan D. “Pete” and Harley H. “Butch” Dupler, and a grandson James Charles D. Dupler on October 20, 2016.