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Peggy Donnan Sims Ripley
07/28/1938 — 01/10/2008
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Laurens, South Carolina
Peggy Donnan Sims Ripley
Peggy Donnan Sims Ripley was born on July 28, 1938 in Laurens, South Carolina the eldest of three sisters from the marriage of Johnnie D. Sims and Eva Donnan. She was of Baptist upbringing in an American Anglo Saxon household. Peggy learned to be an expert cook early, and her birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners were triumphs of the culinary arts. She passed away peacefully on January 10, 2008, at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.
She was the captain of her high school softball team which attained superior rankings in S.C. State tournaments. Peggy was an intrepid defender of the Bill of Rights particularly the second amendment. She was a crack shot with her .38 revolver and was a political leader of considerable merit. Peggy’s highest achievement was her election to be the Chairman for the State Central Committee of the South Carolina American Independent Party. She was their nominee for the office of Governor of South Carolina the only woman to have been so honored.
In Peggy’s work as a Financial Analyst for the major contractors on the Hanford Site she demonstrated her ability and diligence by unraveling vexing discrepancies in nuclear inventory records some of which had gone unresolved for years on end. Letters of commendation and career advancement were the happy results of her constant performances and challenging assignments. She was an avid hobby flower and water gardener following an oriental motif. Peggy was artistic in flower arrangements and seasonal house decorations featuring original wreaths.
Peggy is survived by her husband, Charles Chatham Ripley of Richland, Washington and her beloved sister, Pearl Smith of Lake Worth, Florida. Peggy is the loving stepmother, grandmother and great grandmother to Rip’s extended family: Charles Susie, John Diane, Joanne, William Terry, all in California and Robert of Kennewick, Washington and eight grandchildren, six great grandchildren in California, two nieces and two nephews in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved sister, Betty L. Bunton.
Memorial services will be held Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at Einan’s Funeral Home in Richland, Washington. Peggy will be laid to rest in Greenville Memorial Gardens, Piedmont, South Carolina following services there on Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances would be welcomed by the Salvation Army
peggy was love by everybody!!!I’m glad my mother had such a good friend.I ALSO fell in love with her.nobody could but help love her,her family was very lucky!!!but this lady will never be forgoten, our blessing is with all of yall…..
Dear Rip,
As long-time friends of yours, we share in your grief and your great loss at this sad time. We were never privileged enough to have ever met Peggy in person, but from the other guestbook entries that we’ve read and from your glowing remarks about your lovely wife, we lament that we missed out on knowing a truly wonderful and remarkable lady. You and your family have our sincerest sympathies.
Your friends,
Dave & Tori
Aunt Peggy,
I remember as a child thinking you were a movie star as you were such a striking beauty. Later in my teen years you inspired the political activist in me. We love you and will forever remember you!! Donna
You will always be in hearts and thoughts…
Gramma Peggy, we are so very honored to have her part of our lives. I can remember as a child loving to hear her voice. You gotta love the S. Carolina acsent. Gramma Peggy was such a generous, kind hearted woman. One thing we will all miss is her Great Granchild fun packages. It was always a nice surprise to see both her and Popas thoughts for my two daughters, Megan and Mackenzie.She will be missed more than words can express. Thank you Gramma Peggy for being such a special part of our lives. God Bless.
Dear Peggy:
What a dear friend you have been to all that knew you. You always were thinking of others and I am sure all appreciated what your friendship has given each of us.
You will alway be in my heart and memories.
I am sure you are with GOD and are at peace.
Love
Mary
We met Peggy many years ago during your visits to San Diego and we have fond memories of her as a gracious and warm lady. I am sure that Peggy is smiling down on us from the great beyond.
Rip: We are just sad that we never had a chance to know her better. The lesson: Life is short – don’t put things off – do it now!
01/31/2008
We met Peggy through Ripster while we were working at the ATG site, in Richland, Wa. She was always gracious and welcomed me into her home whenever I happend to be passing through Richland. We will miss her and wish the best for our Ripster.
Rip,
Your loss is heavens gain.
Always remember that Peggy is wrapped in God’s loving arms.
I was one of the people truely blessed to know Peggy. I met Peggy while working for a house cleaning company in 2006 and eventually started up my own small business. Ironically, Rip hired me as a “companion” for Peggy and that is exactly what I became. I cleaned the house every Friday and early on, we formed a very close, loving relationship. Peggy asked me to help her in the yard, helping to care for her spectacular oriental gardens. During these visits while pulling weeds and picking through flowerbeds and ponds we learned practically everything about each other. I knew very early on that I was truely blessed to know and spend time with someone so kind and loving. When I would go on trips out of town to the Oregon Coast or back East to visit with my family on the holidays, I would bring her tokens of my travels. She became such an important part of my life. Peggy, in return would spoil me rotten with chickens for my kitchen or little trinkets that caught her eye and made her think of me. One day when I came to “work”, I had vegetables from my garden for her and she said, “Mel! You don’t have to bring me something every time you come!” I really hadn’t realized that I was giving her things on such a regular basis! I told her that I just thought of her so often and couldn’t help it! The next week when I came to work, She opened the door for me and I said, “I don’t have a damn thing for you, I hope you’re hapy!” We laughed and laughed about that and I believe she had something for me anyway that day to take home. Every room in my home has been touched by Peggy. And my yard has signs of her everywhere too, including oriental style shades on my patio and a grass umbrella, strewn with lights…just like hers.
I don’t think there is a person who met Peggy who wasn’t touched by who she was. I have had the pleasure to get to know the intire family she loved so dearly, and I know what an impact the loss of Peggy will have on you. She was so proud of the nick name of “GG”, given her by the great grand kids who couldn’t put ‘great grandma Peggy’ together. My thoughts and sympathies go out to all of you who loved Peggy. She will always be a part of all of us, and live on in our hearts forever.
Mel Strope
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this very difficult time. We will always remember Peggy as a sweet, loving and giving person. Trust that she is at eternal peace now. She will live on in our hearts forever.
Love,
Frank, Debbie, Brett and Sarah Koleszar
A few words from the Hough Family.
GG has been a wonderful part of her great grandchildrens life. She has shown them that they are thought of and loved. She has sprinkled them with her random acts of kindness and her presence is felt everyday in our home.
Justin, Mason, Katelyn and Ryan had been hoping and praying for GG to make a full recovery. When we sat them down and explained that GG had gone to heaven, there sadness was overwhelming. Our 8 year old, Justin sat up nice and straight and said, GG is a great person. She is kind and she is loving. She will not die. This poem immediately came to my mind, because this is what this very young boy was trying to articulate. We find great comfort in these words and hope you do, too.
A poem by Mary Elizabeth Frye
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.
I, Ford, am a long-time close professional engineering friend, buddy and partner of Peggy’s husband, Rip, back in California and later at Hanford, thru good times and bad.
Accordingly, I, and my wife, were frequent visitors in Peggy and Rip’s home and beautiful garden grounds in Richland.
Peggy was always a perfectly accommedating and gracious hostess, and I always marveled, and was appreciative of, her culinary expertise.
I several times congratulated
Rip on his great fortune in being blessed with such a wonderful help-mate.
Accordingly, my wife and I thank the good Lord for our having known Peggy, and claim the good Lord’s blessing on Peggy where she is now.
Also, Nancy and I claim the good Lord’s comfort and blessing on Rip and the rest of Peggy’s family during this most difficult time.
In Jesus name, Amen.
Ford & Nancy
With much love and sympathy to the family and my friend Joanne.
Lynn Terry
Losing someone we love is never easy to accept, and sometimes it must seem as if the pain is almost too much to bear; and I know this pain having lost my father, Bruce Kamman July 14, 2007. But I believe that our love will outlast the pain of the grief you’re feeling…I believe that you have a place deep in your heart where treasured memories will always live. And one day those memories will be a tremendous comfort to you. Until the day when you can smile again, I hope it helps to know how sorry I am and how much I care.
Somewhere, under a bluer sky,
In a higher realm than where eagles fly,
In a land of beauty beyond our knowing,
With trees & flowers & waters flowing,
And mountains of unearthly grace,
Our loving Lord has made a place…
And one day, through an opening door,
We find that glorious evermore.
MAY GOD COMFORT YOU…
In Loving Friendship,
Leslie
Being close friends of Pearl Smith, we have felt as if we knew her sister Peggy. Pearl loved, admired and always spoke lovingly of her sister. Family love was the biggest part and strong link of this special family. Their love could be measured by the care they showed for each other. Mr. & Mrs. Sims taught their daughters the strong values from God’s word. Those strong, wholesome principles continue to carry on from each generation.
God bless each of you as you go forward with beautiful memories and life lessons from Peggy.
Rip – I was very sorry to learn of Peggy’s passing.
My thoughts are with you. Kathy
39 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP @ JOY FROM INTRODUCING HER TO RIP. POLITICAL CONVENTIONS, AND FOURTH OF JULY WEDDING. MANY HOLIDAY IN WA @ MT. ALL WERE HAPPY EVENTS WITH
There is one thing I’ve learned after having 2 wonderful Sisters like Peggy and Betty is that “Sisters are Forever and Always”.
Here is my Tribute to My Sister, Peggy.
It feels like years but it has only been 12 days,
And yet that is still too long. I still love you the same as if you were still here with me, laughing during the good times and crying during the bad ones. I miss being able to call you at any time and spend hours talking about everything under the sun. As children we were practically joined at the hip, but we grew up and grew apart, as most siblings do. We had our own set of friends and our own set of goals for our lives, but that still didn’t change the fact that we were sisters. There was nothing that I wouldn’t do for you and nothing that you wouldn’t do for me. I’ll always wish you were still here with me enjoying life, but I can understand why God would want such a beautiful angel at his side from now until eternity. Just know that I love and miss you, and this is a tribute to you, my big Sister, Peggy.
With Love,
Your Sister Pearl
ADD PLEASE = OUR MOST TREASURED OD FRIENDS
Rip and family.
Please accept our deepest sympathies in the loss of your Peggy.
Regrettably, I John only knew Peggy briefly during my stays in Richland.
She was always a welcoming and gracious host, with a ready smile.
A pity I was,nt aware of her shooting ability, that would have been something to see
Love and regards
Evelyn and John B. Coop
It is a rare and priviliged experience in life to meet an exceptional person in life and have that person become a life-long friend.Peggy was such a person to all those whose life she touched.She will always have a special place in our heart.
Guestbook for
Peggy Donnan Sims Ripley