Francis Martin Ripley, Sr.

Mr. Francis M. Ripley, age 94, of Decatur, GA died peacefully on August 30, 2011. Rip was born May 15, 1917 in Kirkwood, GA to Allen Weeks Ripley and Frances Link Ripley. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Green Ripley. He is survived by his sons, F. Martin Ripley, Jr. (Lonnie) of Decatur, GA, James Green Ripley (Judith) of Alpharetta, GA and daughter, Mary Ripley Watson (James) of Tullahoma, TN. He has 7 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. He attended Boys High School and Georgia Tech and retired from Southern Bell after 36 years of service as a field engineer. After retirement he volunteered at Mission Haven and The Clothes Closet on the campus of Columbia Theological Seminary. Rip enjoyed the outdoors, raised quail as a hobby and served as a Boy Scout troop leader (troop 455) at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church. He also enjoyed traveling with the Friendship Force. He was one of the last draftees (married with children) drafted into the Army and served in Japan after the war ended as part of the occupation force. Rip was an elder at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church and Decatur Presbyterian Church and insisted along with his wife that his children attend Sunday School and church every Sunday. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Decatur Presbyterian Children's Community. Funeral services for Mr. Ripley will be held Friday, September 2, 2011 at 11:00 AM at the Decatur Presbyterian Church chapel with a reception to follow in the church parlor. A. S. Turner and Sons.

Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033