William J. Ripley 89, of Seminole died peacefully on Tuesday September 29, 2020 at Bay Pines VA hospital in St. Petersburg.
He leaves Marjorie, his wife of 64 years, and five sons, William Ripley and his wife Wendy of Barre MA, Stephen Ripley and his wife Lynn of Kansas City MO, James Ripley and his wife Donna of Woodstock, GA, Daniel Ripley and his wife Leigh of New Boston NH, and Kenneth Ripley and his wife Lily of Beaverton OR, 16 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his two sisters, Lillian Forbes and Mary Sheridan.
Bill enlisted in the United States Navy in 1950 at the age of 19 shortly after graduating from Hudson High school in Hudson MA. He proudly served during the Korean War. Bill was assigned to the Navy’s VF-54 Fighter Squadron known as the “Angeli-Inferni” or Hells Angels. He served for four years as an Armament Installer and earned the Korean Service Medal (4 stars), United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Japanese Occupation Service Medal.
Bill was employed by New England Telephone for 29 years and was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. He was also a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
A committal service for Bill will be held at Bay Pines National VA cemetery in St Petersburg FL and is private for the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (nchv.org).
Veterans Funeral Care 830 N. Belcher Rd., Clearwater, FL 33765 is assisting his family with arrangements.
