Litha Rippee's Obituary
Litha Irene (Fleetwood) Rippee was born June 3, 1917 to Jim and Verdie Fleetwood in Webster County, Missouri. She lived most of her earlier years in and around Seymour. She attended grade school at Finley School. In 1934 at the age of 17, she married William Bert Rippee and to this union was born two daughters. Litha lived a very simple life. She and Bert would go away every summer to Illinois, Indiana, Colorado, or Idaho to work as harvest hands in the crops, such as asparagus, onions, potatoes and a variety of fruit. This is how they made a living. But each fall when school started they would come back home so that their daughter could go to school.
When World War II started, they acquired a government loan to buy milk cows, wheat and corn seed. They sold the milk, wheat and corn to the government to help feed the soldiers.
After the war ended, there was no market for their products, so they sold out and moved to Wichita, Kansas. Litha went to work at Central Poultry Market where she worked for over 20 years.
She and Bert moved to Seymour in 1973. Bert departed this life February 20, 1980. After his death, Litha moved to Strafford and later to Marshfield with her daughter, Bertia.
About six years ago, she returned to Seymour and when she passed she was a resident at Glenwood Healthcare. She departed this life July 11, 2010 at 12:25 a.m. at the age of ninety-three years, one month, and eight days.
Litha was a devout Christian and had given her life to the Lord. She was a member of the old Seymour First Baptist Church. In later years she was unable to attend services because of her health, but she continued to pray and read her Bible. Litha was very strong and survived many obstacles in her life, but she always seemed to bounce back. She was a loving, generous person, always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it.
Litha is survived by two daughters, Thelma Wallace and husband Harold, and Bertia Binley and husband Lee, all of Seymour; seven grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; ten great-great-grandchildren and one on the way. A host of loving nieces and nephews, and many friends. She loved them all as well as being loved by all.
Litha was a great lady and will be truly missed by her family and friends.
Services are 10:00 a,m,, Thursday, July 15, 2010 in Holman-Howe Funeral Home in Seymour, Missouri with Pastor Mike Freeman officiating. Burial will be in Goss Cemetery, south of Seymour, Missouri. Visitation will be Wednesday 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Goss Cemetery in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 366, Seymour, Missouri 65746.
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