Eugene Rippee's Obituary
Eugene Bert Rippee, son of Homer and Grace Carter Rippee was born near Rayborn, Missouri on December 28, 1924 and departed this life Saturday, October 11, 2008.
He attended Lawson grade school where his uncle Walter Rippee was his teacher through all eight grades. He graduated from Mtn. Grove High School in 1943 and was drafted into the U.S. Army in July 1943. After basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, and a short stay at Fort Brown, Texas, he went with the 124th Cavalry to Burma. He served in China, Burma, and India until the end of World War II.
In 1947, he was married to Ruth Hutsell and they became parents of five daughters.
They made their home on a dairy farm near Rayborn except during the 1950’s, when Bert was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad in Rawlins, Wyoming as a fireman. With the coming of the Diesels, the firemen were no longer needed, so they returned to the farm. When his health began to fail, the farm was sold and they moved to Mountain Grove in 2004. Bert became a Christian early in life and was a charter member of Calvary Baptist Church, later moving his membership to Friendship Baptist Church. He was a faithful member and was an adult Sunday School Teacher as long as his health permitted.
He had been a member of the Elmer O. Sellers American Legion Post #45 in Hartville since 1946 and was also a member of the V.F.W. in Mountain Grove.
Eugene was preceded in death by his parents; his father and mother-in-law, Leonard and Gladys Hutsell; his brothers, Kermitt Rippee, Guy Rippee, Don Rippee, and wife Jeanne; and a grandson, Cristopher Rust.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth of the home; his five daughters, Judy Kemper and husband Malcolm of Mtn. Grove, Missouri, Peggy Rust and husband Clyde Jr., of Columbia, Tennessee, Karen Rippee of Mtn. Grove, Missouri; Nancy Staudt and husband John of Nixa, Missouri, and Linda Boll and husband Arlan of Long Beach, California; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Greg Kemper and wife Liz and their children, Madison, Harrison and Hudson, all of Nixa, Missouri, Nathan Kemper and wife Mauria of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Shawna Staudt and fiancé Trevin Taylor of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Adam Rust and wife Asya of Lavergne, Tennessee, Reverend Jason Rust and wife Erica and their children, Jordan and Jayda, of Spring Hill, Tennessee; a sister, June Booth of Springfield, Missouri; two brothers, Jay Rippee and wife Mildred of Springfield, Missouri and Rex Rippee and wife Marie of Pea Ridge, Arkansas; a sister-in-law, Bonnie Martin of Springfield, Missouri; several nieces and nephews and many dear friends.
His greatest joy was when his children or grand and great-grandchildren came to visit.
Funeral services for Eugene Bert Rippee will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at the Friendship Baptist Church, Mountain Grove, Missouri. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday in Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri. Visitaion will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday evening in the Friendship Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donation may be made to Gideon Bible or Community Hospices in care of the Funeral Home at P.O. Box 236, Hartville, Missouri 65667.
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