Harold Edwards Ripple Jr., 98, of Hiawatha, passed away Monday morning, 23 October, at the Maple Heights Nursing Home.

Born March 24, 1919, in Dodge City, KS, he was the son of the late Harold E (Sr.) and Ada (Hopper) Ripple.  A graduate of Dodge City High School and Dodge City Junior College, he attended Northern Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago.  However, he left school during the war to serve in the Army Corps of Engineers building Army Air  and returned to and graduated from the College of Optometry in 1947.   He practiced optometry in Hiawatha 36 years from Sept. 1, 1947 until retirement in 1983 .

On May 29, 1949, he married Margery Elizabeth Shideler, who preceded him in death on Jan. 18, 1978.  Of that union, two children were born and survive, Patricia (Mike)  Marsh  and Gary  (Susan) Ripple.  

On Feb. 17, 1979, he married Deloris Parker Hathhorn, who survives of the home.  This union  brought another son and daughter into the family: Steve (Marla) Hathhorn and Debra Hathhorn Wright, of Hiawatha.

As a member of the Kansas Optometric Association (KOA), he served as president of the Kansas Optometric Association, president of the Kansas Optometric Foundation, Chair and Secretary of the State Optometric Board of Examiners, President of the seven-state Heart of America Contact Lens Association, and President of the Kansas Ethics Committee for Optometry.  As a member of the American Optometric Association, he earned recognition as a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.   He received numerous honors from both professional associations including KOA’s Emeritus Member and KOA’s first recipient of its Lifetime of Excellence Award for his exemplary ethical and professional character.

Dr. Ripple was a member of The First Presbyterian Church of Hiawatha for 70+years where he served many times on its Board of Trustees and on its Session with multiple terms as Session Clerk.  From 1955 until 1963, he served on the Hiawatha Board of Education.   He was one of three original founding members of the Hiawatha Elks Lodge serving one term as Exalted Ruler and a member for 70+ years.  He was also active for 70+ years in the Masonic Lodge and was a member of the Abdullah Shrine.    As a long-time member of the Hiawatha Kiwanis Club, he served once as president, and he was a member of the Hiawatha Country Club.   He also served on the Boy Scouts’ District Committee and on the Troop 111 Committee, and he was proud to be an adult member of the Pony Express Council’s tribe of Mic-O-Say.   As an enthusiastic KSU Wildcat fan, he attended almost all KSU football games from 1970 until 2015.  He loved the mountains and took many trips with family and friends to the Ripple family cabin in Colorado.  He was a woodwork craftsman and made intricate, keep-sake toys for his children and grandchildren.  Well into his 90s, he enjoyed golf, bridge, fishing and bowling.

In addition to those already mentioned, other survivors include:  one brother, Dr. William Ripple of Dodge City, KS.; nine grandchildren and their spouses:  Chris (Angie) Grojean of Omaha, NE; Kristin (Chad) Soden of Hiawatha; Randee (Justin) Abitz of Wamego, KS.; Robyn (Aaron) Lanter of Hiawatha; Ryan (Jamie) Hathhorn of Olathe, KS; Emily Ripple (Travis) Rudolph of Dallas TX; Lisa (Shelby) Wendland of Lawrence, KS.; Graham Ripple of Kansas City, MO.; and Jacob (Cas) Marsh of Aurora, CO.; fourteen great-grandchildren:  Austyn, Jaydee, Cade, Natalee, Reid, Reese, Westin, Charlotte, Allie, Drew, Henry, Kayla, Savanna – and another baby Wendland on the way; and 2 great-great grandchildren:  Kooper and Piper.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Virginia Baldwin.

Friends may call at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home after 10 a.m. until 4:30 Wednesday.  The family will meet with friends at the First Presbyterian Church in Hiawatha from 6 until 8 p.m. that evening.

A Celebration of Harold’s life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Hiawatha Thursday, October 26th at 10:30.  Reverend Nancy Tuma will officiate.  Masonic committal services will be a courtesy of Masonic Lodge #35, AF&AM of Hiawatha.  Interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha.

The family requests that remembrances be given to the Kansas Optometric Foundation, Hiawatha’s First Presbyterian Church, or the Maple Heights Activity Fund, which may be sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434. www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com