Donald Rippy

Rev. Donald Ray Rippy, 72, passed away Sunday, January 27, 2013 at his home in Midland. Mr. Rippy was born March 10, 1940 in Gaston County to the late A. V. Rippy and Ada Inez Wilkie Rippy. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Hager Rippy, in 2008. He was a Mason, a Shriner, a successful bone marrow donor with the American Red Cross, a minister in Southern Baptist Convention for forty-five years, and received his Bachelor of Theology at the age of 71. The family will receive friends from 5 – 7 p.m., Wednesday, January 30, at Pine Grove Baptist Church, 100 Pine Grove Church Road in Concord. The funeral service will begin at 7 p.m., officiated by Rev. Jim Howard and Rev. Ron Helms. At other times, the family will meet at his home on Ritchie Road. Survivors include his sons, Donald Ray Rippy, Jr. and his wife, Jennifer and Bobby Joe Rippy and his wife, Lisa; his daughter, Wanda Welch and Jeff Bumgarner; his grandchildren, Ashley Rippy, Alycia McClain, Kathryn Rippy, Olivia Bumgarner, Alex Bumgarner, Kendal Bumgarner, Cecil Rippy, Daniel Welch, Garrett Welch, Noah Shaw, and Carmen Shaw; his great-grandchildren, Colton McClain, Branson McClain, Zachary McClain, and Isaac McClain; and a special friend, Von Broome. Memorials may be made to Pine Grove Baptist Church, 100 Pine Grove Church Road,Concord, NC 28205. Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is serving the Rippy family.