Rurr F. Ripley

FREEVILLE - Burr F. Ripley, age 93, passed away Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at home.
He was born in Galeton, PA in 1922 to Glenn and Ellen Ripley moving at a young age to Canisteo, NY where he graduated from Canisteo Central in 1940. In 1942 he married Elizabeth M. Dineen, his high school sweetheart whom he partnered with for 73 years, always at each other's side. Burr worked as a machinist for 2 years at Eastman Kodak, Hawkeye Division, in Rochester, NY before entering the US Navy. He served in the South Pacific on the U.S.S. Flint during WW II, for 2 ½ years. His ship was one of the first to anchor in Tokyo Harbor during the surrender. There he was able to explore the Japanese underground machine shops that were part of Japans war effort. Upon returning home, he built and remodeled homes, first in Canisteo then moving to Ithaca in 1947. Burr worked for two local contractors, George Smith and Nig Hill, until 1952 when he started his own firm. He built many homes throughout the area including his and Bette's present residence. Burr was a founding member of the Cayuga Heights Fire Department in 1955. He could create anything that needed to be built, engineered or dreamed of. As a curious problem solver he started experimenting with plastic in 1961 and co-founded Ithaca Plastics with Edward Buechel. They created not only signage but also display and production pieces for Agway, Watkins Glen Raceway, Cornell and High Speed, among others. They retired in 1981. Always drawn to engineering and mechanics, he and Bette started restoring antique cars and trucks, from rusty relics to national show award winners. If something wasn't available, Burr could create it including making his own molds and pouring hard rubber tires and producing antique oil filters that are currently being used in many Packard, Auburn and Franklin restorations today. Burr was a member of the Antique Automobile Club of America, Packard Automobile Classics, Inc., Ithaca Old Car Enthusiasts, East Grand Packards and Antique Truck Club of America. He and Bette attended numerous auto shows including Hershey, from 1972 until recently.
Burr leaves his wife, Bette and daughters, Ann M. Holgate of Boylston, MA, Barbara J. (Tad) Herr of Marietta, PA, Patricia R. (Steven) Uyeno of Kimberton, PA along with his sister, Cressence Gerringer (Kenneth) Bloss of Spencerport, NY and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother and sister-in-law, Nelson and Marion Ripley.
Services will be private at the convenience of the family at Perkins Funeral Home, Dryden.
We were so blessed to be a part of his life. My Husband and Our Dad.