Barbara Gay Ripley, 79, of Newcastle, died peacefully at Market Square Health Care Center in South Paris on Nov. 4 after losing her battle with COPD. Her daughters Ruth and Jane, and their husbands, were by her side.
She was born on April 20, 1931 in Damariscotta, the only daughter of the late Thomas E. (Tom) and Iome Gay. Barbara graduated from Lincoln Academy in 1949. She was married to the late William A. Ripley for 43 years.
Barbara will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She also enjoyed gardening, sewing, home-making and playing the organ. As a teenager she loved to sing in the choir with Will and many other local friends at the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle. Shortly after getting married to Will, he joined the airline business and they moved to many places throughout the U.S. including Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia, Illinois and Florida. They loved to travel and enjoyed such places as Hong Kong, Russia, England, and Ireland among other countries. Barbara came home to Maine in 2006.
She had one brother, Tom, who predeceased her.
Barbara is survived by her daughters, Jane Fogarty and husband Pat of Austin, Tex. and Ruth Leather and husband Dave of Norway; grandchildren, Cathy, Kevin, Mike, Kristen, Jenny, Chris and Bill; and seven great-grandchildren.
Visiting hours 3-5 p.m., Sun., Nov. 7 at the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta. Funeral service 1 p.m., Mon., Nov. 8 at the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.
If desired, memorial donations may be made to Second Congregational Church, P.O. Box 243, Newcastle, ME 04553 or to The Market Square Health Center, Residential Care, Resident Council, 3 Market Square, South Paris, ME 04281.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, Damariscotta.
