A loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Stan Rippon, age 88, went to be with the Lord on Friday, September 15, 2006 at Allenmore Hospital in Tacoma, WA. He was born May 27, 1918 in Tacoma, the only child of Frank and Elsie Rippon. Stan graduated from Lincoln High school in 1936, where he played trumpet in several bands. Following high school, he worked as a bookkeeper at Day's Tailored Clothing, National Blower and Sheet Metal, and for the Army Air Force at Boeing Field.

Stan met the love of his life, Eleanor Gardner, in 1940 and they were married in Tacoma on August 9, 1942. Their 64 years as husband and wife were happy and memorable.

Stan enlisted in the Army in late 1942 and served with the Signal Corps, operating and maintaining vital military communications equipment in Alaska during World War II. During this time he grew to love Alaska and its beauty and he returned there often during his life.

After World War II, Stan enjoyed a long career in electronic communications, serving in civil service positions with the Alaska Communications System, the Joint Communications Agency, and finally with the Defense Communications Agency. A career highlight was providing secure communications support during the Strategic Arms Limitations talks in the late 60s and early 70s. His work meant moving his wife and children "back east" to Pennsylvania and Maryland for sixteen years. In his later years, "retiring" from civil service and returning to the Gig Harbor area, he became a licensed electrician and created Rippon Electric Company.

Stan had a lifetime of service to God and to his community. He served as an Elder in several Presbyterian congregations, volunteered to be on Presbytery committees, and had a strong interest in supporting church missionary activities. He and Eleanor traveled to Alaska, southeast Texas and Mexico with the Volunteers in Missions organization, performing Christian outreach to ethnic populations. Stan went to Zambia, Africa, for two months to help build a village hospital there. In the 1980s he volunteered time to establish a student radio station at Peninsula High in Gig Harbor. He was active in the Gig Harbor and the Key Peninsula Lions Clubs and headed the hearing aid project.

Stan was known to his large family as a loving, supportive husband and a wise and compassionate father and grandfather whose counsel was cherished.

Stan is survived by his loving wife, Eleanor, of Tacoma; six children, Alice (Bill) Hartley of Chicago, Ill., Jeanne (Brint) Sagle of Tacoma, WA George (Donna) Rippon of Lakebay, WA, Dorothy (James) Marr of Gig Harbor, WA, Margaret (David) Listoe of Gig Harbor, WA, and William (Barb) Rippon of Gig Harbor; sixteen grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.

Stan's wonderful life will be celebrated at a memorial service to be held at Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church, 7700 Skansie Ave, in Gig Harbor, WA at 4:00 P.M. on Friday, Sept. 22. Memorial donations may be made to the Key Peninsula Lions Club; or to the Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship, 7132 Portland Ave., Suite 136, Richfield, MN 55423-3264.