Helen Blalock Rippy, age 100, was born on June 9th, 1924 and passed on August 28th, 2024.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. William D. Rippy; their five children, Bill Rippy Jr. (Laura Rippy), Bob Rippy (Jenny Rippy), John Rippy Sr. (Janet Rippy), David Rippy Sr., and Myra Rippy (Chris Roehner); nine grandchildren, Alexandra Rippy, Sterling Rippy, John Rippy Jr., Rebecca Dzupinka, Anna Kroko, Lee Rippy, Kristin Foss, Helen Rippy Roehner, and G.W. Rippy Roehner; 13 great-grandchildren (with another on the way); and two special nieces, Bonnie Blalock and Teresa Blalock. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jonah and Lester Blalock, and her two brothers, Sylvester and Clarence Blalock.
Helen was a former active member of the Burlington Artist League, the Alamance Women’s Medical Auxiliary Society, the Elon University Golden Alumni Association, and was involved in numerous churches through Women’s Circles and Sunday school groups. She served on the Alamance County Mental Health Board and anything else she could find that suited her interest.
Helen was a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader, and the mother of three Eagle Scouts. If you knew Helen, you know that she enjoyed painting, needlework, ceramics, sewing, and tending to her yard. Her art can currently be found in homes and businesses around the world. She also loved to travel – if any of her friends said “let’s go,” they were gone. Though, her greatest joy in life was to care for and be with her family, especially her husband of 78 years, “D.”
Thank you to Barbara Jenski for all your care over the years, and special thanks to all of the other caretakers who have devoted their time and love.
Memorials are to be given to the Helen Blalock Rippy Art Scholarship at Elon University. To make a gift to her scholarship in her memory, you can either go online to https://www.elon.edu/u/advancement/wavs-to-give/make-a-gift/ and note in the comments that your contribution is in memory of Helen Rippy, or mail a check payable to Elon University with a note on the memo line.
