William H. ("Bill") Rippey, a World War II veteran, died peacefully on Jan. 14 in the Assisted Living Facility of the Springfield Rehabilitation Center in Springfield, MO, where he had lived since the fall of 2019.   Mr. Rippey was a former resident of Cape Fair, Mo.

He was born in 1923 in Ottawa, IL, the son of Wallace and Florence Rippey.   He was graduated from Ottawa High School in 1941, and went on to attend Knox College in Galesburg, IL.   At Knox he joined the U.S. Army ROTC, and became part of the school's legendary "Class of '45."

Shortly after the United States entered World War II, Mr. Rippey was called to active duty and sent to Officer Candidate School with about two dozen other members of the 1945 class.  Ultimately, Mr. Rippey and most of the young Knox officers became part of the 84th Infantry Division, comprised almost entirely of Illinois men, and known as "The Railsplitters." The division saw action in The Battle of the Bulge and throughout the invasion of Germany.

Not all of the Knox Class of '45 survived the war. Many others were wounded, including Mr. Rippey, who was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds suffered in The Battle of the Bulge.   After recovering for weeks in a hospital in Great Britain, he returned to the German Front, where he was to earn the Bronze Star Medal for valor in action.

Before he had shipped out to Europe in 1943, Mr. Rippey returned to Ottawa and married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth L. ("Beth") Carter. They were married for 60 years and had four children:   Michael, of Holland, MI; Thomas, of Cape Fair, MO; Sally Hinckley, of Harbor Springs, MI; and John, of Sedalia, MO.

After finally graduating from Knox College in 1948, along with other surviving members of the "Class of'45."Mr. Rippey began a long career in sales and sales management, spending some 30 years with the National Cash Register Company (NCR).

Mr. Rippey was preceded in death by his wife, Beth; his parents; and two sisters, Mary Hess and Martha Rowe, both of Ottawa, IL.  In addition to his four children, Mr. Rippey is survived by 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren.

A private burial will be in the Cape Fair Cemetery.   No visitation or funeral service is being planned at this time.  The family plans a memorial celebration at some point in the future, once the risks of Covid 19 are under control.  Arrangements are under Stumpff Funeral Home Kimberling City, MO.