Dr. Ruppert R. "Woody" Hunziker was born December 22, 1923 in Montverde, Florida to John William Hunziker and Lydia Belle Suman. Woody received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida on May 25, 1942 and graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Knox, Kentucky on September 23, 1944.

After assisting the K9 Corps, Woody participated as unit commander in the 784th Tank Battalion in the tail end of the Battle of the Bulge as well as the Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe operations before receiving combat ending injuries. On April 18, 1946, he was appointed to be Second Lieutenant, Field Artillery. On May 24, 1946, Woody was honorably discharged from the Army, receiving various honors including the Purple Heart.

Dr. Hunziker received his masters and doctorate degrees in Soil Chemistry from Iowa State University. During the mid 1950's, he worked as a surveyor in Iraq, where he met his eventual bride, Judith Morris. They married 10 April 1956 in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1962, the family moved to California for a "temporary" job and never left, except to assist UC Davis in Egypt for several years. Dr. Hunziker worked for many years with John Taylor Fertilizer Company assisting farmers throughout the state. Outside of his vocation, Ruppert was very involved with Faith Lutheran Church and raising four children, Helen Triolo, Suzanne Moscoso, Robin Hunziker, and Wendy Hunziker. He is survived by his wife and children, 7 grandchildren, siblings Karl Luther, John Harold and Clara Belle Baker and predeceased by sister Helen Marian.