GAP MILLS, WV – 2 Timothy Chapter 4 Verse 7; I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Earl O. Ripley Sr., age 95, of Gap Mills, WV went to be with Jesus on May 21, 2015 surrounded by family at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, Fairlea, WV. Born July 19, 1919 at Second Creek, WV he was the son of the late Edgar and Anna Dowdy Ripley. Earl served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945. He was retired from the WV Department of Highways in Union. He was a member of the Gap Mills Church of the Nazarene at Gap Mills. Earl loved the Lord, loved being outside, and loved his family and friends. The last couple of weeks before his passing, Earl started singing, which was unusual, but we found comforting, since Earl was a quiet spoken person.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one daughter in 1990, Carolyn Clarkson; three brothers, Marshall, Clyde, and Marion "Joe" Ripley; two sisters, Hazel Sculla and Annie Honaker; one daughter-in-law, Shay Ripley; and one son-in-law, Desota Sharp.
Survivors include, his loving wife, Ella Mae Kirk Ripley of Gap Mills, who he married June 17, 1955; two sons, Earl Ripley, Jr. and companion Dinah Stover and Mike Ripley and Fiancé Misty Everhart all of Gap Mills, WV; three daughters, Joann Sharp of Sinks Grove, WV, Teresa Ripley of Hinton, WV, and Natalie Jones and husband Bobby of Gap Mills, WV; one brother, Clayton Ripley and wife Mary of Crawley, WV; ten grandchildren, Gary Pitzer, Jr., Shawn Clarkson and wife Heather, Shane Clarkson and wife Amber, Sabrina Wilfong and husband Jon, Misty Sites and husband Dave, Chad Ripley, Wesley Jones and wife Jenna, Aaron Jones and wife DJ, Cameron Mann and wife Rachel, and Narayah Ripley and Fiancé Jared Wickline; twelve great-grandchildren, Ashley and Natalie Wilfong, Dakota, Carolyn, and Daniel Sites, Max, Carolyn, Aliyah, and Skylar Clarkson, Kye and Abbey Jones, and Paxton Mann. Several nieces, nephews, friends, and special friends, Dorsey and Barbara Galford also survive. The family wants to send their many thanks to the staff of The Season, The Brier, and Greenbrier Valley Medical Center.
Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at the Groves Funeral Home Chapel in Union, WV with Rev. Jimmy Rogers, Rev. Mark Prater, Rev. Roy Barber, and Rev. William Biler officiating. Burial will follow in Carmel Cemetery at Gap Mills, WV where the WV Honor Guard will conduct Military Graveside Rites. Grandsons and Great Grandsons will serve as Pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers will be Russell Kirk, Hamp Kirk, Buddy Kirk, Marvin Hylton, Bill McMillion, Tommy Walker, and John Hubbard. Friends may call Monday, May 25, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Those wishing to send the Ripley Family online condolences or sign the online guestbook may do so by visiting www.grovesfuneralhome.com Groves Funeral Home in Union, WV is serving the Ripley Family.