Michael Augustus Rumph

Mike Rumph set sail for uncharted waters in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Mike was born to Wilson and Mary Rumph on March 18,1953 in Charleston South Carolina, and continued to live out his days as an island boy in the lowcountry. 

His childhood on Isle of Palms made for lots of mischievous and entertaining tales, and as an adult he loved to fish the waters off the barrier islands where he grew up. He attended Moultrie High School, where he and his brother Giggy were the first and only pair of brothers to have both won the title of “Mr. Moultrie.” After high school, Mike went on to Trident Technical College, graduating with a degree in Automotive Technology. He joined Giggy and his father Wilson in the family tradition of fixing cars at Rumph’s Auto Service. While he was great with a wrench, he was not quite so great with the telephone. It was here that he met his wife Linda. Luckily for Mike, Linda’s Volvo was less than reliable. The two started dating after he would offer to pick up and drop off her car each time it would break down. Mike proposed to Linda on a bench at the battery in downtown Charleston, parking his new Ford by the seawall. After Linda accepted, he famously said, “Good! Let’s go, my van’s getting wet.” The sea spray couldn't snuff out his enthusiasm for long though, because he shouted “She said yes!” over the PA system installed in his van and the people walking the streets of downtown cheered. Surrounded by friends and family, Linda and Mike married August 1, 1981 (8/1/81 being an easy anniversary to remember) at the Methodist Church on Isle of Palms. 

They were blessed with three daughters, whom they raised on the creek side of Sullivan’s Island. Summers with Mike were spent boating with the dogs, usually a motley crew of German Shorthaired Pointers or making memories on the dock. Some of his favorite activities included shooting at the range with his family, fishing for king mackerel with dear friends, scuba diving, golf cart rides, and playing cards. He particularly loved hosting the “Rumph Roast,” an oyster roast held annually the day after Thanksgiving. It was the family’s biggest event of the year, and it wouldn't have been possible without Mike’s brother-in-law Kenny Donaldson, who steamed oysters all night long to keep the party going. While Kenny married into the family, there's no doubt he is the hardest working Rumph of the bunch. In the spirit of the oyster roasts, Mike’s home was always a revolving door of friends and family. He could be counted on to draw in and welcome friends, new and old, including a German exchange student, Dana, and a Brazilian exchange student, Aline. Once there was even an entire French family, the Cartons, who lived on their boat tied to Mike’s dock for a year. In 1998, a fourth daughter Heather was unofficially adopted into the family. She started out as the babysitter, but was quickly promoted to “Favorite Daughter.”

Mike’s family feels very lucky to have had twelve “bonus years” with him after he survived a near-fatal car accident in December 2011. With the health struggles that followed in the subsequent years, Mike never lost his infamous sense of humor, steadfast stubbornness, or his ability to tell stories. While rough around the edges, those who knew Mike well knew him to be a man of integrity with an extremely strong work ethic. He could always be counted on to be the life of the party. 

He is survived by two of his siblings, Wilson “Giggy” Rumph (married to the other Linda Rumph in Mt. Pleasant), and Saron Donaldson (Kenny), as well as his loving and ever-patient wife of 43 years, Linda, his daughters Jessie Michener (Dan), Capers, and Abby (Ben Rader), Heather Grossklaus (Drew), two grandsons, Caleb Grossklaus and Lachlan Michener, as well as friends who are family Lori Taguding, Ryan Taguding, and Lauren Tabares. He is preceded in death by his parents Wilson and Mary, sister Mahlon, and close friend Art Taguding.

A memorial service will be held at J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel on Tuesday, June 25th. Visitation with the family will take place at 10 am, the service will be held at 11am, and a light lunch reception will be provided following the service. The family also invites you to remember Mike as you experience your own “good old days.” Bring your friends together, tell a good story, get out on the water, or have a drink and raise a glass to a man who was larger than life. 

A memorial message may be sent to the family on our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com