NORTH MANCHESTER – Keith W. Cripe, 89, of North Manchester, died at 6:11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, at the Cripe Family Farm, North Manchester.
He was born on Nov. 1, 1930, in Whitley County, to Harold W. and Ethel M. Michel Cripe. On Jan. 13, 1951, he married Margaret A. Kyler, who survives. They were married just short of 69 years.
Keith was a farmer from 1953 to 1983, and worked at Zollnor Pistons in Fort Wayne as a machinist for 27 years. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. He attended South Whitley Church of God.
He graduated from Chester High School in 1950. Keith defined hard working. He worked third shift, then came home and worked more to provide his seven children and wife the opportunity to have a great life. Keith always put his wife, children and grandbabies first. Not only did he show his children the value of hard work, but he taught them the importance of being a faithful servant to Jesus Christ. Every Sunday, he would take his family to church; this is where he served in the choir and taught Sunday school. He was a good Christian example and a proud veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret A. Kyler; sons: Daniel (Nancy) Cripe, of Bluffton; Rodney (Sue) Cripe, of Servia; Philip (Joni) Cripe, of North Manchester; and Ronald Cripe, of Preston, Ky.; daughters: Connie (Terry) Hunter, of Silver Lake; Linda (Dan) Fox, of North Manchester; and Mary (Jerry) Bolinger, of North Manchester; brother, Ernest Cripe, of North Manchester; sister, Dorothy (Dan) May, of North Manchester; 21 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter-in-law, Teresa Cripe.
Funeral services are 2 p.m. today at McKee Mortuary, 1401 Ind. 114 W., North Manchester, with Pastor Douglas Reichenbach officiating. Calling hours are from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will take place in Fairview Cemetery, CR 300E and CR 1000N, Servia, Ind.
Arrangements are entrusted to McKee Mortuary.
*****
Memorials to American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231.
