Clayton Ripperton

Silvis, Illinois
Clayton James ?Rip? Ripperton of Silvis, Illinois, passed away on Monday, November 12, 2012, at Aspen Rehab and Healthcare Center, Silvis, after a lengthy and brave fight against Alzheimer?s disease. He had just reached the age of 80 the day before passing.
Services are 11 a.m. Thursday in the Celebration of Life Chapel at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline, Illinois. Burial is in Rock Island National Cemetery. Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Activity Fund at Aspen Rehab and Healthcare or Alzheimer?s research.
Clayton James Ripperton was born on November 11, 1932, in Davenport, Iowa to Amy Clark and Grover Cleveland Ripperton. He married Joan Kerker in 1954, in Davenport, and together they had four children. He married Maurene Echoute LeVan in 1978, in Moline.
He was a pilot in the US Air Force, during the Korean War, enlisting in 1952, and obtaining the rank of Lieutenant. His fascination of planes, jets and all things airborne would continue throughout his life. Rip graduated from St. Ambrose College in 1967. He worked for Brammer Manufacturing for 32 years, and retired from Freed Heating and Air Conditioning in 2001. Rip enjoyed camping, dancing and was always comfortable with a room full of family entertaining from behind his bar. He never quite understood how much we loved to hear him sing.
Rip is survived by his wife Maurene; children and their spouses, Cheryl and Kirby Graff of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Mary and Kevin Cox, Kirk and Patti Ripperton, and Scott and Michelle Ripperton, all of Davenport; grandchildren and their spouses, Nikki and Brent Kock, Bill Cox, Jacob Ripperton, and Jacklynn Ripperton; great-grandchildren, Joseph and Andrew Kock; and several much loved nieces and nephews.
He is also survived by Maurene?s children and their families, Cheri Frakes of Milan, Illinois, Terry and Alice LeVan of Rock Island, Kent Sr. and Judy LeVan of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Beth and Don Albrecht of Olathe, Kansas; her grandchildren, Brian Frakes, Michael and Stacy Frakes, Corey and Amanda LeVan, Melissa LeVan, Katie LeVan Phillips, Angela LeVan, Kent LeVan Jr. Christopher LeVan, Sarah Albrecht, Jake Albrecht, and Luke Albrecht; her ten great-grandchildren; and her sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Paul Lind of Hillsdale, Illinois.
He will lovingly be missed by all.
Waiting to greet him in heaven are his parents; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ethel and Albert Ohlsen, and Iona and Harold Kress; brother, Dacil Ripperton; granddaughter, JoLee Catherine Cox; and step-son-in-law, Jerry Frakes.
Rip?s family invites friends to share stories and condolences and light a candle in his memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.