Obituary of Barry J. Ripper

Mr. Barry J. Ripper, Sr., 79, of 5421 State Hwy 417, Titusville died at 10:40 PM on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at the Golden Living Center in Oil City. Mr. Ripper was born on December 25, 1931 in Springdale to the late Herbert H. and Ruth Catherine Schankweiler Ripper. He married Agnes Caufield on March 26, 1960 at Yonkers, NY. He was a graduate of Springdale High School, class of 1949, and the University of Arizona with a degree in business management in 1956. Mr. Ripper was a veteran of the Korean War. He enlisted in the US Navy on August 10, 1949 and served on the USS William Wood and USS Hailey. He was honorably discharged on May 6, 1953 with the rank of Radar man 3rd Class. He was awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal, United Nations Service Medal and the Korean Service Medal with one star. Mr. Ripper enjoyed the fact that he traveled around the world stopping at 26 different countries. After graduating from Arizona he went to work for New York Life as a computer analyst from 1956 to 1960. He worked briefly for the Oil City Derrick and later as a reporter, sports editor and managing editor for the Titusville Herald from 1961 to 1984. During those years he was also a rural letter carrier for the Titusville Post Office from 1977 to 1991, a school bus driver for the Oil City School District and owned and operated Ripper’s Country Store from 1972 to 1977. Mr. Ripper enjoyed coaching baseball and men’s and women’s modified softball. He spent lots of time outdoors hunting small game and had a passion for raising Beagles. He was an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins and Pirates. He was a member of the Bruce Shorts Post 5958 VFW, Oil Creek Beagle Club, Rainbow Beagle Club in Cooperstown and the USS William M. Wood Association. Mr. Ripper is survived by his wife, Agnes Ripper of Titusville; four children, Dorothy L. Staub and husband Tim of Oil City, Barry J. Ripper, Jr. and wife Tina of Titusville, John M. Ripper and wife Melinda of Butler, Cathy A. Delp and companion Jeff Price of Lewes, DE; ten grandchildren, Timothy and Daniel Staub of Oil City, Benjamin Ripper and companion Julie Renninger, Tyler Ripper both of Titusville, Nicholas, Alyssa and Andrew Ripper of Butler, Stephanie, Maggie and Adam Delp all of Lewes, DE; three great grandchildren, Isabella, Justice and Kayleb Ripper all of Titusville; one sister, Joyce Hoak of Townville; many nieces and nephews; and special friends, Stan Hepler and Sam Tate of Franklin, and Dewey Williams of Titusville all longtime fellow Beagle club companions who provided support and comfort during the most difficult times. Friends may call at the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home 303 N. Washington St., Titusville on Saturday from 1 to 3 PM with a memorial service to follow. Memorial contributions may be made to the Visiting Nurses Association of Venango Co., 491 Allegheny Blvd, Franklin, PA 16323, Cherrytree Vol. Fire Department, Titusville, PA 16354 or to the charity of one’s choice. FLOWERS