Dennis J. Ripberger

Dennis J. Ripberger, 65, of Connersville died Wednesday afternoon, September 20, 2017 at Reid Health, Richmond. A Connersville native, Dennis was born March 3, 1952, to James Rudolph “Rudy” and Freda Mae Paxton Ripberger, both of whom preceded him in death. He attended area schools and graduated in 1970 from Connersville High School, where he had played on the football team. In 1972, he entered the U.S Air Force where he served as a Sergeant with the 17th Bombardment Heavy Wing Unit stationed in Iceland during the Viet Nam War. Dennis had been employed at Visteon and its predecessors as a manager in the fleet services division. He was a member of the AMVETS, Elks, Eagles, Moose and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, all of Connersville. He also was a member of the Liberty Church of Christ and had attended Central Church, Quakertown Baptist Church and First United Methodist Church in Connersville. On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1983, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Dennis married the former, Mary L. Daniels who died June 16, 2007. His love of music, especially the loud, jazzy style helped inspire his disc jockey business, ‘Rip’s Karaoke’. Dennis enjoyed helping with the St. Gabriel’s Fried Chicken night at the Fair County Free Fair, cooking and camping with his family. Dennis is survived by his children and their spouses: Dawn Berger and Greg Schiefelbein of Brooklyn, New York; James Michael Ripberger and Autumn of Connersville; Patrick Ryan Ripberger and, Veronica, of Richmond; his grandchildren: Paige, Lorelei and James R. Ripberger, Draven Dare; his brother and sister in law: Thomas Ripberger and Sue of Connersville; nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 12 noon Monday, September 25, 2017 at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville, with Pastor David Soper of the Liberty Church of Christ officiating. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 10 to 12 p.m. Monday where memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans. Interment will be in Dale Cemetery at the convenience of the family. For additional information and to send condolences or memories, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.