Col. William Richard Trippe III

1933 - 2018

Col. William Richard Trippe, III Summerville - Col. William Richard Trippe, III (Ret. USAF), 84, of Summerville, husband of Edna T. Trippe, passed away Friday, May 25, 2018 at The Village at Summerville. Family and friends are invited to attend his memorial service on Monday, May 28, 2018 at the Village at Summerville, 201 W. 9th North Street, Summerville at 3 o'clock. Colonel Trippe was born in Baltimore, Maryland, November 27, 1933, son of the late William R. and Frances Tubbs Trippe. He was a graduate of the Gilman School of Baltimore, received an Associate of Arts degree from Webster University. He also was a graduate of the Squadron Officers School and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. The Colonel received his commission as a second lieutenant in June, 1956, from the Air Force ROTC program at Yale and was subsequently selected for a regular Air Force Commission in May, 1960. He was a Command Pilot with over 5,000 flying hours. His first overseas tour was in Scotland where he flew the HC-54 aircraft and in 1963 participated in the rescue of fifty survivors of an ill-fated Flying Tiger Airliner which had ditched in the Atlantic 700 miles from the Irish Coast. He also served an overseas tour in Germany, as well as, a combat tour in Vietnam in 1968 flying HC-130 aircraft for the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service. The Colonel was the flight test project officer for the development and qualification of the HC-130P aircraft as a refueling platform for the HH-3Es on their non-stop record setting flight from Floyd Bennett Field, New York to London, England and then Paris, France in June, 1966. His awards included The Legion of Merit, The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Bronze Star Medal, The Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, The air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal. He was a member of the Order of Daedalians, The Military Officers Association of America, The Air Force Association, and the Sons of the Colonial Wars. Following his retirement in July, 1982, he became General Manager of the Coastal Federal Credit Union in North Charleston. He merged this organization with the Charleston Air Force Base Federal Credit Union and subsequently opened that financial institution's first Summerville Branch. In 1985, he resigned and began teaching as an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston, The Citadel and Trident Technical College. In April, 1989, he became a permanent faculty member at Trident, teaching there until retiring again in 1995. Surviving are his beloved wife, Edna Tucker "Snookie" Trippe of 51 years; six daughters: Karen T. Nichols (Stephen) of Waterloo, Illinois, Jeannie T. Brooks (Walter E.) of Charleston, Sandra T. Andrews (Dr. James C.) of Wadmalaw Island, Tacy T. Trippe (John Bryer) of Wiscasset, Maine, Jo C. Trippe of Johns Island and Frances L. Trippe of Johns Island; ten grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Summerville Presbyterian Church, 407 S. Laurel Street, Summerville, SC 29483 or The Employee Appreciation Fund at The Village at Summerville, 201 W. 9th North Street, Summerville, SC 29483. A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jamesadyal.com. ARRANGEMENTS BY JAMES A. DYAL FUNERAL HOME, 303 SOUTH MAIN STREET, SUMMERVILLE, SC 29483 (843)873-4040. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston