Jack Ripley

MELBOURNE, Fla. - John Richard "Jack" Ripley, 78, died Sept. 25, 2002, at his home.

Born Sept. 5, 1924, in Chicago, Ill., son of the late John and Helen Slater Ripley, he grew up in Chicago where he attended St. Mel's High School. He graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. He was an industrial engineer for the John Morrell Company in Chicago for 35 years before moving to Sikeston, where he resided for 13 years before moving to Florida. A World War II veteran of the U.S. Army, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was involved in civic and local organizations all his life. He was of the Catholic belief.

On Dec. 29, 1945, in New Madrid, Mo., he married Patricia Ruth Cravens who survives of the home.

Other survivors include: five daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia and George Schmidt of Spokane, Wash., Peggy and Tom Cirigliano of Dallas, Texas, Mary and Dinnon Hand of Bennington, Vt., Kay and John Komotos of Kirkwood, Mo., and Jo and Joey Horton of Mendenhall, Miss.; one sister and brother-in-law, Elaine and Lou DiPirro of San Diego, Calif.; and 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

One brother, Eugene Ripley, preceded him in death.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Richards Funeral Home in New Madrid, where a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Madrid with Monsignor Michael Swalina, pastor, officiating.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery at New Madrid.

Paid obituary