Arden Lee Cripe

Arden Lee Cripe of Rossville went to his heavenly home at 7:03 PM Saturday, September 7, 2013.  He spent most of his life in Rossville, but due to health reasons had been residing at Creasy Springs in Lafayette for the past 15 months.  Arden was born in Kosciusko County (Indiana) on November 17, 1923 to Freeman Elroy Cripe and Nora Alice (Ross) Cripe.  The family later lived in Carroll and Clinton counties, where Arden attended elementary school in Pyrmont and graduated from Rossville High School in 1942.  From March 1, 1943 to April 7, 1946, during WW II, he served in the Navy aboard the USS Hillary P. Jones (DD-427).  He received further education from Lafayette Business College.

On March 13, 1949, in Dayton, Indiana, Arden married H. Faye Rohler.  Arden and Faye were married for over 59 years when she passed away in April 2008.  Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Kansas City, MO, where he attended Kansas City School of Watchmaking.  Upon Arden’s graduation, they moved to Kendallville, and then to Bluffton, where Arden was employed in the jewelry business.  In 1956, Arden and Faye moved to Rossville, and Cripe’s Jewelry was opened.  Arden worked as a self employed jeweler for 55 years and completed his last clock repair in 2011, at the age of 87.  He had also worked for the town of Rossville and operated their water treatment plant.  He was a member of the Rossville Bible Fellowship and had past affiliations with the American Legion, Indiana Horological Association, Rossville Businessmen’s Association, Kiwanis Club, and served on the Milner Community Nursing Home board of directors.  Arden enjoyed time with family and friends, playing Euchre and 313, gardening, golf, and fishing.  He took his family on numerous fishing vacations to northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, sharing his love of nature and the outdoors with them.  Throughout Arden’s life, he made many sacrifices to provide for his family and to share with others less fortunate.  He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by daughter, Susie (Gordon) Skiles of Lafayette; son, Mark (Ann) Cripe of Delphi;  granddaughters, Molly (Nathan) Birt of West Lafayette, and Hannah (Sean) Bogaert of Savannah, GA.; sister, Ruth Felix of Mulberry; brother, Don (Bonnie) Cripe of Lowell; sisters-in-law, Joy (Don) Schwartz of Lafayette, and Marilyn Cripe of Frankfort; and numerous nieces and nephews.  In addition to his wife, Arden was also preceded in death by their infant son, Robert Lee Cripe; daughter, Cathy Jo Cripe; infant grandson, Caleb Andrew Cripe; his parents; brothers, Dana, Merl, and Carl; and his sister, Helen Mellinger.  

Visitation for Arden will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2013, at Genda Funeral Home Rossville Chapel and also one hour prior to the funeral service on Thursday at the funeral home.  Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 12, 2013, at the funeral home with Pastor Judd Dickey officiating.  Interment will follow in Rossville Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 7725 North College Avenue, Indianapolis, IN, 46240.  Online condolences may be directed to www.gendafuneralhome.com.