Tiberius Lupash

Tiberius Lupash, 86, of Westminster, CA, went to be with his Heavenly Father on May 28, 2024.

Tiberius was born on March 6, 1938, to Adolph and Stana Unverdorben in Caracal, Romania. He was adopted by his maternal aunt to change his Germanic name to a Romanian one, at a time when ethnic Germans faced discrimination and deportation to Russian prison camps. He attended high school in Bucharest and completed his education in 1960, earning a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Bucharest Polytechnic Institute.

In 1968, Tiberius escaped communist Romania and came to the United States as a political refugee.  En route to the United States, he met his spouse, Cornelia, in the US Embassy in Austria where they were waiting in line to be interviewed. She shared her faith with him and amused by her sincerity, he started calling her Billy Graham’s sister. As he left for the United States, she gave him contact information for Christians in Southern California.

Upon arriving in Los Angeles, he reached out to the contacts Cornelia had given him.   Observing their lives transformed by Christ’s love combined with their witness, he started attending Bible Studies and eventually gave his life to Christ in early 1969.  On November 22, 1969, he married Cornelia in Riverside, CA. Tiberius and Cornelia went on to have three children: Ruth and the twins, Daniel and David.

Tiberius held several engineering jobs before landing at the US Naval Weapons Station in Seal Beach, CA, where he worked as a mechanical engineer for over 20 years before retiring.  He also became a US Navy reservist because he wanted to give back to the country that had given him so much.

Tiberius loved people; he moved through life with the motto that “everyone is my friend until they tell me otherwise.” He had a remarkable ability to engage deeply with a wide range of people, and he was characterized by charm and humor that won people over.

God used Tiberius’ charisma to further His Kingdom.   Tiberius had a passion for spreading the Gospel in Eastern Europe, and his warmth enabled him to persuade and connect people.  Following the Bucharest earthquake of 1977, he worked with World Vision to help bring aid to Romania.  He also championed Child Evangelism in Eastern Europe, helping to recruit missionaries and to support the underground church. He was instrumental in bringing Cru (formerly Campus Crusade) to Romania.  He also made multiple trips to Eastern Europe to aid in Gospel efforts.  On the home front, he used his abundant energy to help start Bethany Romanian Baptist Church in California and was active with the Long Beach Rescue Mission and the Gideons.

Tiberius was a dedicated father, who took joy in his children. More importantly, he was committed to teaching his children the Word of God and growing them in their Christian faith.  In his later years, he enjoyed playing and interacting with his grandchildren. He loved music, art, travel, and hiking. He was quick witted, charming, and a force of nature, who used his life to serve Jesus Christ.

Tiberius is survived by his loving wife, Cornelia; children, Ruth (Doug) Vander Kooi of Williamsburg, VA, Daniel (Emily) Lupash of Salt Lake City, UT, and David Lupash of Westminster, CA; grandchildren: Willow, Summer, and Roman Vander Kooi;  David, Andrew, and Matthew Lupash, one sister: Anca Vatasescu, as well as beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends. 

Services as are follows:

Sunday June 9^th| 5:00 pm - Celebration of God’s grace in his life followed by a reception at Bethany Romanian Baptist Church, 1431 W. La Habra Blvd., La Habra, CA 90631

Monday, June 10^th| 7:00 pm - Memorial Service at Bethany Romanian Baptist Church

Church services will be live streamed: https://www.youtube.com/@bethanyla2434/streams

Tuesday, June 11^th| 8:30 am - Graveside Service, Forest Lawn Cypress, 4471 Lincoln Ave, Cypress, CA 90630

In lieu of flowers the family requests that you make a donation to the Little Samaritan Mission  or Christian Aid Ministries.  

https://christianaidministries.org/

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