CRIPE, Eugene Howard (Gene)

The Verde Independent, Cottonwood, AZ December 11, 2005 Eugene Howard "Gene" Cripe died Dec. 6, 2005, at 9 a.m. He was 96 years old. Gene was born in Ockley, Ind., to Perry and Clara Roth Cripe. He was the middle child in a family of three brothers and two sisters, all of whom preceded him in death. His family moved to Delphi, Ind., during his childhood and he graduated from Delphi High School. Gene went on to college at Purdue University and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1932. Soon after Gene moved to Southern California, where he worked as a design engineer in the appliance industry for the next 50 years, rising to the position of chief design engineer. He was responsible for many inventions in his field. In his spare time Gene could often be found on the golf course, where he was a near-scratch golfer. During the summer he loved to visit his siblings, whom he remained very close to throughout his life, and their families back in Indiana. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Faye Maxine Cripe, and four children: Sally Cripe Tylman, Angela Figy, George Weathers and Daniel Santillan, and five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held Dec. 10 at the Wescott Funeral home. "Poppie" will be greatly missed.