Delores K. "Penny" (Longerbone) Ripley, 72 years old of Decatur, Indiana, passed away on Friday, July 10, 2015 at Bluffton Regional Medical Center. She was born on Thursday, September 17, 1942 in Fort Wayne, Indiana the daughter of the late William Longerbone and the late Esther Ruth (Estes) Longerbone. She married Marcus J. Ripley on August 3, 1963 in the Decatur Missionary Church. Penny was a member of the Willshire Union United Methodist Church where she was active in Bible study and taught Sunday school. She taught Arts & Crafts at the United Methodist Church Youth Camp. She was a member of the Chicago Art Institute and Toledo Art Institute. She was a student under Isabel White and participated in area oil painting classes. She also enjoyed painting with area artists including Fred Doloresco. She was a graduate of Decatur High School in 1960. Penny had worked at Waterfield Mortgage Company in Fort Wayne and Orthopedic Equipment in Bourbon, Indiana. She was the owner and operator of the Tinker Shop in Decatur. She worked at Adams County Surveyor's Office and City of Decatur Water Department. She was also a self-employed artist as Delores Designs and participated in arts and crafts shows throughout Indiana supplying many of her crafts to Rustic Hutch and the Victoria House in Fort Wayne. She also partnered with her husband in Marc Ripley Construction as a design consultant and secretary. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a faithful follower of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Surviving are her husband, Marcus J. Ripley of Decatur; daughter, Kandice K. (Todd) Estill of Bluffton; daughter, Kendel K. (Jason) George of Brookville; daughter, Erin M. Ripley of Decatur; son in Christ, Miguel (Kim) Suarez of Decatur; sister, Mary Ellen (Jim) Martin of Fort Wayne; six sisters-in-law, Enid Roberts of Columbus, IN; Marlene (Jim) Habegger of Decatur; Norma Ripley of Plymouth; Betty Ripley of Decatur; Sue Ripley of Decatur; Pauline (Marvin) Joray of SD, and two brothers-in-law, Tom (Arvilla) Ripley of Lexington, KY & Michael (Emily) Ripley of Fort Wayne. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Audry, Sophia, and Emerson Estill and Josiah, Hannah, Esther Ruth, and Marcus Paul George. Preceding Delores in death were a son, Christopher James Ripley; her father & mother-in-law, Leland & Midge Ripley; and six brothers-in-law, Dave Roberts; Dave Ripley; Charles Ripley; Roger Ripley; John Ripley; and Donald Roe. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 14, 2015 in the Willshire Union United Methodist Church on County Road 650 East in Monroe with Pastor Richard "Bud" Larimore officiating. Interment will follow in the Tricker Cemetery in Monroe. Friends will be received from 1 to 4 and 5 to 8 p.m., Monday, July 13 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Preferred memorials are to Willshire Union United Methodist Church, Family LifeCare in Berne, or the Continuing Care Unit at Bluffton Regional Medical Center.
