Rilla Ripley

Rilla Bernice Ripley, 90, of Van Wert, Ohio, formerly of Rockford, Ohio, died on Saturday, October 18, 2014 in Van Wert. She was born on her family's farm near Willshire, Ohio, on June 9, 1924. A farm girl, a farm wife, homemaker, mother, and grandmother, Rilla was preceded in death by her husband, LaVerne T. Ripley, whom she married on August 4, 1944. He died on November 13, 1992. Of the six children born to H.L. and Goldie (Hileman) Putman, Rilla was the last to pass. Preceding her in death were three brothers: Meredith Putman, Max Putman, and Jacob Putman, along with two sisters, Chloris Becker and Patricia Joan Lucas. Rilla is survived by two children, James D. (Pam) Ripley of Mesa, Arizona and Vicki L. (Mark) Riggs of Dublin, Ohio. Four grandchildren also survive: Rebecca Ripley, Andrew (Aimee) Ripley, Katy Riggs, and Julia Riggs, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Rilla spent most of her adult life on LaVerne's and her farm on Jordan Road, west of Rockford. When living alone in a big farmhouse became too burdensome and risky to her declining health, she moved to Van Wert, where neighbors and Dr. Matt Miller's family adopted her. Throughout her life she adored children and children adored her for nurturing, inspiring, and having faith in them. Grandchildren sometimes likened a week at grandma's as a boot camp on manners. Rilla believed in hospitality, a well kept home, straight corn rows, and a cup of black coffee filled to the very brim. She took little interest in life's pretenses and the latest fad. She didn't read People magazine or watch much TV, but found joy in seeing the wind ripple through a ripening field of wheat, in working in her flower garden, and in seeing the year's first big snowfall. As age was making a final raid on her strength and life, she uttered to no one in particular that she longed to be pitching hay. Funeral services for Rilla will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2014, at 10:00 a.m., at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford., with Dr. Matthew Miller officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday, from 4:00-8:00 p.m., and on Saturday, one hour prior to the service.