Ovie Allen "Butch" Rippetoe

Ovie Allen “Butch” Rippetoe, 72, of Cleveland, TN went to be with the Lord his savior on January 17, 2020 following a heroic 19 year battle with cancer. He passed at his home surrounded by his loving wife and family. He was of the Baptist faith and attended First Baptist Church in Cleveland. He was born in Charleston, WV on October 20, 1947. He was a graduate of West Virginia State and obtained his Masters Degree from Marshall University. He was married 51 ½ years to the love of his life whom he affectionately called, his “beautiful Selmy Justice”. He retired after working over 30 years with a local company. He was known for always having a smile on his face no matter his troubles. He had a huge heart and was known as Papaw Toddy, by his granddaughters. He enjoyed going, “bear hunting” with his granddaughter to sitting countless weekends at softball fields with his other granddaughter. He was a role model to many from his advice to how he supported and loved his family. He was a prankster that loved pulling harmless pranks and jokes on everyone. He loved taking long trips to New England with his wife to get away and enjoy the fall colors and restaurants. His love of Oldies music has made it a special part of his family’s life. He enjoyed taking drives with his wife in his Corvette, he finally purchased after wanting one for years. He loved trips to Myrtle Beach, SC, camping with his family and going to the annual car shows with his brothers. He will be missed terribly but the mark he left on all our lives will never be forgotten. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Frank Cunningham; grandmother, Ethel Cunningham; father, Everett Rippetoe; and uncles Bill and Emmett Cunningham. Survivors include his loving spouse, Thelma Rippetoe; mother, Helen Rippetoe of Winfield, WV; daughters Kristi Johnson Summers (Daniel) of Cleveland, TN and Kimberly Rippetoe (fiancé’ Timothy Cate) of Cleveland, TN; granddaughters Autumn Johnson and Allison Johnson of Cleveland, TN; brothers Ronald Rippetoe (Nancy) of Winfield, WV; Donald Rippetoe (Sheryl) of Blacksburg, SC; Keith Rippetoe (Aimee) of Huntersville, NC; sister, Becky Wright (James) of Rock Hill, SC; aunt, Joanne Cunningham of Marmet, WV and several nephews and cousins. The Remembrance of Life Service will be conducted on Monday, January 20, 2020 at 11:00 A. M. at the Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services North Ocoee Chapel with Dr. H. E. Cardin, Chaplain with Hearth Hospice officiating. Interment will follow in the Sunset Memorial Gardens with family and friends serving as casket bearers. The family would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Holland and his staff at Tennessee Oncology and Hearth Hospice. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 8:00 P. M. Sunday at the Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services North Ocoee Chapel who has charge of the arrangements. You may share your condolences and your memories with the family at www.jimrushfuneralhomes.com.Read Obituary