Cindy and Mark Devilbiss hosted the Rippey Lions Club at their rural Rippey home for the June cook out and potluck. Plaques will be provided for the tree planted in memory of Keith Devilbiss and in honor of the 100th anniversary of Lions Club International and dedicated at a later date. Plans for the summer include a free community picnic at Osborn Park on Saturday, July 7th. Flyers and signs will be provided in the community with reminder cards sent to the members. As part of the meeting, Chris Roberts was honored with a plaque for his 18 years of service as secretary of the Rippey Lions Club. Chris was thanked for his work on behalf of the Rippey Lions over the years.
Mary Weaver presented the program about the Kinkead-Martin American Legion Post in Rippey and observance of Decoration Day later called Memorial Day. The Rippey Legion Post, first chartered on April 28, 1922, was named after Clifford Kinkead.
Clifford Kinkead, son of John and Fannie (Winchell) Kinkead, was the first local soldier to die in World War I. He died in France, October 28, 1918, aged 29 years. His family had been informed that his body was not recovered. Later, remains were located and he was buried in the Rippey Cemetery on Monday, May 30, 1921. He was 20 when he entered the service shortly after the United States entered the war.
Dale Martin, the only child of Lou and Bessie (Underwood) Martin, was aboard the USS Nevada at Pearl Harbor and was the first local soldier to die in World War II. He joined the Navy at 17 years old and needed permission of people including his father, pastor, postmaster, and school superintendent because he was not yet 18 years old. His remains were returned to the Rippey area in 1949 and he is buried near his parents in the Rippey Cemetery.
On April 11, 1948, a new charter was issued and the Legion Post was re-named Kinkead-Martin Legion Post #583.
The next regular meeting will be a potluck at the home of Dick and Jo Bardole on September 6 at 7 p.m.
– Jean Borgeson