Leon Cripe

Leon Cripe, age 97, of Blue Ridge, passed away Thursday, September 2, 2021, at his home.

Mr. Cripe was born April 2, 1924, in North Manchester, Indiana, to the late Ora Cripe and the late Eva Heeter Cripe.

He was a member of Blue Ridge First Baptist Church and the Blue Ridge Gideon Camp. Leon was a veteran of the United States Army Air Corp, then the United States Air Force as a pilot in World War II and the Korean Conflict, and later, the Michigan Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve. He was a former airline pilot, who retired from Republic Airways. Leon was preceded in death by his son, Nicholas Cripe.

Leon accepted Christ as his savior when he was 32 years old. He began studying the Bible almost immediately and loved to share what his Savior meant to him, including that “It has been a joy and great blessing to serve the Lord.”

Survivors include his beloved wife of 75 years, Betty Knight Cripe; daughter, Debrah (Milton) Greer; sons, Thomas (Kathy) Cripe and Marcus (Pam) Cripe; daughter-in-law, Angela Cripe; grandchildren, John Greer, Pamela Greer, Katie Serakos, Michael Cripe, Mary Maiman, Stephen Cripe, and Kayley Cripe; and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at 3:30 p.m. at Henry-Cochran Funeral Home Chapel, of Blue Ridge, with Dr. Tom Jordan officiating.

The music was by Debbie Cochran.

Interment followed in Chastain Memorial Cemetery.

The family received friends at the Henry-Cochran Funeral Home, of Blue Ridge, Wednesday, September 8, 2021, from 2:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

If desired, donations may be sent to Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Henry-Cochran Funeral Home of Blue Ridge.

To send condolences to the family and sign the guest register visit www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.