HARRISVILLE, NY ~ Carl W. Ripley, 100, of Locust St., Harrisville, died late Monday, November 12, 2018, in the presence of his loving family, at Carthage Center Nursing & Rehabilitation in Carthage, where he had been since October 1st.
Born May 3, 1918, in Antwerp, NY, a son of George and Nina (Jennings) Ripley, he was a 1936 graduate of Richville High School.
He married Laverna M. Reader on March 9, 1940 at the United Methodist Church in Fine, NY. Mrs. Ripley died March 23, 1992.
A World War II veteran, Carl entered the US Navy on April 26, 1944, and served mostly in the Key West area of Florida guarding the southeastern section of the United States. He was honorably discharged as a Signalman Third Class from Lido Beach, LINY, on Oct. 19, 1945.
In his younger years, Carl worked at Pine Camp (now Fort Drum) building soldier’s barracks. In 1941, he went to work for the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation at Benson Mines in Star Lake where he worked as an Electric Shovel Operator until his retirement in 1978 after 37 years of service. From 1960 until 1967, Carl and his wife, along with Fred and Jean Young, owned and operated the R & S Market on lower Maple Street in Harrisville. Additionally, he was a partner with George Pierce in Pierce and Ripley Gravel, as well as owning and operating a local garbage route for many years in Harrisville.
For all of his life, Carl was an exceptionally civic-minded man, who loved his community and who would do anything to help anyone out, who dedicated countless hours through his 70 year membership with the Harrisville Volunteer Fire Department, and his devotion to the area’s educational system through his 25 years of service as a member and former President to the Harrisville Central School’s Board of Education.
In addition to the Harrisville VFD, he was a member of the Mullen Flow Hunting Club, the Harrisville Rod & Gun Club, Gouverneur Elks, and the Beaver River Memorial Post 1663 American Legion in Croghan.
Throughout his life, he loved to play and watch baseball, travel to Mullen Flow to go hunting, bowling with his buddies in various men’s bowling leagues, and coaching the former Harrisville Men’s Town Team Basketball.
Surviving are his five children, Charles R. Ripley and Kay W. Ray, both of Harrisville, Carl W. “Skip” Ripley, II, of Ingleside, IL, Karen “Sue” Wiltse, of Hope Mills, NC, and Trudy J. Parow, of Harrisville; 13 grandchildren, and several great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren; his sister, Harriet Martin, of Lakeland, FL, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his loving wife, Laverna, of 52 years, he was predeceased by two brothers, Robert and Watson Ripley, and a sister, Doris Mealus.
Carl’s funeral will be held on Friday, November 16, 2018, beginning with a Family Prayer Service at 9:45 a.m. at Scanlon Funeral Home, Harrisville, followed by a 10:30 a.m. funeral service that all are invited to attend at the Harrisville Fire Hall, with the Rev. Canon Samuel P. Lundy, officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the Harrisville Community Cemetery, after which, all in attendance are invited back to the Harrisville Fire Hall for a funeral luncheon.
Calling hours will be on Thursday, November 15th, from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Harrisville Volunteer Fire Department or the Harrisville Food Pantry.
Online condolences and obituary at www.scanlonfuneral.com.