Donald Frank "Rip" Ripley

His paternal grandfather, Byron Conrad Ripley, was born in Shulee.

Dave
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Mr. Donald F. "Rip" Ripley
1934-2009
Donald Frank ³Rip² Ripley - August 22, 1934-September 17, 2009, Kentville,
Nova Scotia, and Beverly Hills, Florida, passed away peacefully in the
Valley Regional Hospital on Thursday, September 17, 2009 with his family by
his side. He was the son of the late Frank and Lucy (Brison) Ripley of
Kentville, Nova Scotia. He attended Kings County Academy (KCA). A personal
drive to escape poverty, a love of sports and a fascination with nearby Camp
Aldershot were among the boyhood trademarks of Donald Ripley. Daily
excursions to the Camp, between 1942 and 1945, selling newspapers and
magazines, burned the memory of Aldershot and the young soldiers into
Ripley's heart. From the age of seven he sneaked through the fences to watch
the soldiers train, and in the process heard language that was not always
fit for parlour discussions, and he developed entrepreneurial skills through
tough experience with men who faced uncertain futures. A keen athlete and
fierce competitor, Donald played high school, and later senior hockey. But
baseball was his first love, and he played baseball in the Cape Breton
League. Upon graduating from KCA, he joined the United States Army and
served in Japan as a Military Police officer, as well as playing ball for
the US Army in Japan. Upon returning from Japan, Donald also enjoyed a brief
pro stint playing Double A baseball in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and Danville,
Illinois. However, he then abandoned thoughts of a future in professional
baseball, and at age 25, pursued a business career. He subsequently spent
thirty years working in the investment business. After retirement, he
obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Norwich University in Vermont and
then went on to the New England School of Law in Boston where he graduated
with a Law Degree in 1998 at the age of 64. Donald was also an avid writer
who wrote poetry and 8 published books, including ³The Home Front², wartime
life at Camp Aldershot and ³Thine Own Keeper², a history of the Nova Scotia
Sanatorium. Donald also loved giving back to his community and with his love
for hockey and having played for the KCA High School hockey team and the
Kentville Wildcats in 1951-52, Donald volunteered to coach the KCA High
School hockey team during the '74-'75 and '75-'76 seasons where they won the
provincial championship in both seasons. As a result, he was inducted into
the KCA Sports Hall of Fame. Outside business, his interests included
politics and fundraising for a variety of political and charity
organizations. Proud of his family and ancestors, especially his background
Indian heritage, Donald enjoyed meeting new people and sharing colourful
stories, and making people laugh. Donald is survived by his wife of 55
years, Frona (MacFarlane); daughters, Nancy (Hood) son-in-law, Larry,
Halifax; Karel, Halifax; sons Shawn, daughter-in-law Angela (Mosher),
Kentville; and Dana, Beverly Hills, Florida; four grandsons, Jason and
Mitchell Ripley; Nicholas and Oscar Hood; sisters-in-law Myrna, Eleanor,
Bonnie and Debbie; several aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews; as well as
his 2 adorable dogs Raggs & Scotia. He was pre¬deceased by an infant sister,
Louise; a sister-in-law, Freda Carter; and several aunts and uncles.
Cremation has taken place under the direction of the White Family Funeral
Home and Cremation Services, 100 Cornwallis Street, Kentville. Visitation
will be held from 7-9 p.m. Sunday, September 20, 2009 in the White Family
Funeral Home, Kentville, where a memorial service, followed by a reception,
will be held on Monday, September 21, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. Burial will take
place at a later date. Family flowers only, by request. Donations can be
made to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of Canada by visiting www.ccfc.ca.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home
and Cremation Services, Kentville.