Alex Stash Ripkowski

Alex Stash Ripkowski, 94, of Dayton, died Saturday, June 4, 2011, at the Liberty Healthcare Center in Liberty. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 7, 2011, at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with burial following at Palms Memorial Park in Dayton. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday with rosary services at 7 p.m., at the funeral home. Services are under the direction of Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton. Alex was born September 23, 1916, in New Waverly, to parents; Stash and Mattie Olbrich Ripkowski, and has been a lifelong resident of Dayton. He was rice farmer, veteran of the US Army with service during WW II and awarded the good conduct medal, and EAME campaign medal with five bronze stars, former owner/operator of Rip’s Texaco and Rip’s Café, member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, the American Rice Growers, the American Legion serving as finance officer for numerous years during his 57 year membership, and life member of the Nolan D. Pickett VFW Post #5621. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, and bossing the Rip kids. Mr. Ripkowski was preceded in death by his parents, wife: Daisy Ripkowski, stepdaughter: Patsy Ballard, stepson: Charlie Hatcher, sister: Virginia Carter, and brothers: Bill, Bernie, Felix, August, Stanley, Raymond, Herman, and Leon Ripkowski. He is survived by his brothers: Franklin Ripkowski of Dayton, John Ripkowski of Dayton, and Mike Ripkowski of Dayton, sisters: Kathryn Machala of Crosby, Pearline Tilton of Victoria, and Anna Lee Campbell of Dayton, stepchildren: Sid and Glenn Ballard, Jill Baxter, and Jana Zylmon, and numerous other relatives, and friends.