DOB/DOD: April 19, 1894 (Norwalk, CT) – February 16, 1977 (Westport, CT); 82 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Henry Rippe [1893-1968] on April 1, 1922, in Westport, Connecticut
CHILDREN: One son, Robert D. [1924-2013]. One daughter, Eleanor J. Rippe Huntington [1929-2017]
LOCAL ADDRESS: 9 Courtland Place, South Norwalk
FAMILY: Born to Charles H. (WWI veteran) [1865-1928] and Sara Gray Downes [1865-1945]. One brother, Randolph C. [1901-1975]. Two sisters, Ethel F. Rippe Collins [1895-1983] and Hazel D. Downes Ackley [1904-1994].
OTHER: Graduated from Norwalk High School, Class of 1912. She was in the first graduating class of Norwalk Hospital’s School of Nursing and went on to be the night supervisor at Norwalk Hospital and a private duty nurse before the service.
SERVICE DATES: Appointed as a Nurse on September 28, 1918. Assigned to General Hospital #11, Nantes, France, until July 7, 1919. Then General Hospital #41, Paris (St. Denis), until she was discharged on September 29, 1920.
Base Hospital #41, Paris.
From The Norwalk Hour February 17, 1977
Mrs. Edith Downes Rippe, 82, the wife of the late Henry A. Rippe, formerly of 19 North Avenue, Westport, died Wednesday in the Carolton Convalescent Hospital, Fairfield. Born in Norwalk, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Sarah Gray Downes. She had served in World War I as an Army nurse and was a member of the auxiliary of the August Matthias American Legion Post 63, Westport. Mrs. Rippe was a member of the first graduating class of the Norwalk Hospital School of Nursing, the Compo Hill DAR, and the Greens Farms Congregational Church. The Rippe family operated Rippe Farm in Westport from 1922 to 1968. Survivors include a son, Robert D. Rippe of Charlotte, North Carolina; a daughter, Mrs. Jonathan (Eleanor) Huntington of Loudon, New Hampshire; two sisters, Mrs. Ethel Collins of Glastonbury, and Mrs. Hazel Ackley of Sag Harbor, Long Island, New York, and six grandchildren. Friends may call at the Lewis Funeral Home, 210 Post Road East, Westport, Friday from 7 to 9 P.M. A memorial service will take place Saturday at 2 P.M. in Greens Farms Congregational Church. The Rev. James Chapman, assistant pastor, will officiate. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to the memorial fund at Greens Farms Congregational Church, Westport.
Edith Downes is buried in Willowbrook Cemetery, 395 Main Street, Westport, Connecticut; Old Section 10.
END
Honor Norwalk CT veterans 