Obituary of Lionel Charles Rippie

Colchester – Lionel Charles Rippie, 82, died peacefully on Sunday January 14, 2018 at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. 

Lionel was born on August 2, 1935 in Beloit, Wisconsin, the son of Edward and Esther ( Stevens ) Rippie.

In his early years, Lionel loved playing the accordion and in 1946 was the Illinois State Champion in Accordion playing.  He studied at Howell-Aretta Conservatory of Music from 1944-1946.

Affectionately know as  “Rip”, he graduated from the University of Illinois, with a degree in Electrical Engineering, in 1959. 

He married Barbara Ann Portman on November 28, 1964.

He worked at Sperry Gyroscope in Long Island from 1962-1978, while the boys were young, he worked with the Cub Scouts as a Den Leader while living in Long Island.  In 1978, they moved to Vermont.  There he began work at Simmonds Precision before becoming BF Goodrich Electronics.  In the early 80’s they settled in Panton, where he was involved with the kids Webelos Den. 

He retired in the mid 90’s, Rip was an avid Lionel Train collector and very active in the Masons and served as Grand Master in 1973.

In 2000 Rip and Barb sold their home and began full time RVing.  They traveled all over the US and Mexico until he had a stroke in Mission Texas in 2007.  They stayed in Texas and came back to Vermont in 2014.

Lionel is survived by his wife Barbara of Colchester, and his sons David Rippie of Portland, Maine, Brian Rippie and his wife Mariah and their 2 children Emma and Aldon John, Steven Rippie and his wife Melissa and their 2 children Megan and Tyler who live in Milton.

A Memorial Service will be held in Arizona at a later date.