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John Franklin Ripple, 73, of Clinton, died suddenly on Friday, Nov 6, of a heart attack while golfing with his brother Ellsworth.

His death comes exactly five months after that of his wife, Evelyn Bryan Ripple. They had been married almost forty-nine years, and had resided in Clinton since 1935, when they built their home on Brandywine Road.

Born in Baltimore on July 18, 1908 to Ammon S. and Mary Catherine Ripple, he moved to Cheltenham in early childhood. He followed his father into the broom-making business, becoming after thirty years a wholesale distributor. His father died in 1942.

When his mother died in 1974 at the age of ninety years, all of her four sons and four daughters were living. Roland died in 1978, followed by Kate (Catherine Garner) in February of this year.

Besides J. Ellsworth of Clinton, Franklin is survived by his brothers and sisters, Grace Duvall and Robert R. of Upper Marlboro, Mildred Lyons of Severna Park, Doris Smoot of Brandywine, and many devoted nieces and nephews.

He was a past president of the Clinton Lion's Club of which he was a charter member, a member of the Clinton Board of Trade, the American Legion and V.F.W. He had served in the U.S. Army Infantry in WWII, and landed in Normandy on D-Day. Shortly afterwards he was severely wounded in action, the only survivor of his unit in that particular mission.

Rev. Thomas S. Schaeffer offered the Mass of Christian Burial on Monday at St. John's Catholic Church where Franklin and Evelyn had both been active members for many years.

Pallbearers were his nephews: Capt. James E. Ripple, Jr., U.S.N., Patrick Lyons, Dan Smoot, John Ripple, Joseph Ripple and Stephen Ripple.

Internment was in Resurrection Cemetery. (Obituary)

Frank's pocket prayer book carried into battle... and after battle.

Franklin and Evelyn are buried together in Resurrection Cemetery, Clinton, Maryland.