Date published: 12/12/2007

Eleanor A. Ripley

Eleanor A. "Connie" Ripley, 89, of Culpeper passed away Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007, at the Baptist Retirement Community in Culpeper.

Born in Newark, N.J., she was the daughter of the late George A. and Lillie G. Mort.

Mrs. Ripley served as a U.S. Navy pharmacist's mate, third class, at the U.S. Navy Hospital in Bremerton Hospital in Washington state for two years in 1947. There she met her husband, a U.S. Marine corporal stationed on the USS New Jersey.

She went to work as a nurse for Simms Hospital in Massachusetts, and later went on to manage a school cafeteria in Bloomingdale, N.J., where she had a great love for all the children. Mrs. Ripley also danced briefly with the Rockettes in New York.

Mrs. Ripley was a member of Friendship Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Ripley was preceded in death by her husband, Freddie M. Ripley.

She is survived by her son and loving daughter-in-law, Freddie Jr. and Abigail Ripley of Locust Grove; a daughter, Deborah Mickens of Thornburg; a brother, Thomas A. Mort of Washington; two grandchildren, Stacey L. Mickens Phillips and her husband, Matthew, and Lisa M. Mickens, who loved their grandmother very much. Mrs. Ripley also was soon to be a great-grandmother.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, Dec. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Laurel Hill Funeral Home, 10127 Plank Road, Spotsylvania.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jack Marcom Jr. officiating. Entombment will follow in Laurel Hill Memorial Park.

For those who prefer, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, cancer.org.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at laurelhillfuneralhome.com.

Date published: 12/12/2007