Charles Joseph Ripple, Sr. died Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, with family by his side. Born in Baltimore, his parents were the late Agnes McCarthy and John Ripple.
He attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary, Clifton Park Junior High and Boy's Vocational Schools in Baltimore. He worked for A&P groceries, Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Co. and Crane Plumbing Co. in Baltimore. He retired from Penco Corp. in Seaford in 1990 after 28 years. He was drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1943 and served in England with the 652nd Bomb Squadron Recon of the Eighth Air Force from 1943 until 1945.
He was a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Salisbury and the Knights of Columbus Council No. 3489. He was Cubmaster of Pack No. 185, Scoutmaster of Troop No. 185, Eucharistic Minister at St. Francis de Sales and organizer of the Tootsie Roll campaign benefitting people with intellectual disabilities at Dove Point, Holly Center and Lower Shore Enterprises.
His wife of 70 years, Clare Ripple, passed away in June 2018. He is survived by his children, Catherine Ripple Taylor and Charles J. Ripple Jr.; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one sibling, Sister Mary Charia. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by siblings George, Robert, Bernard), John, Mary and Agnes May.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Salisbury. Burial followed at Spring Hill Memory Gardens in Hebron.