Bruce Dripps Obituary
Bruce L. Dripps Sr., age 83, of Hubbard passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at his son's home on Monday February 5, 2024.
Bruce was born July 4, 1940 in West Pittsburgh, PA. a son of Frank & Helen Rice Dripps Jr.
He was a 1958 graduate of Lowellville High School, and a member of First Baptist Church of Hubbard.
Bruce was a machinist and steel worker at Youngstown Sheet & Tube and later a machinist at Cedar Steel in Youngstown.
He was a member of the Ohio Army National Guard, serving from February 28, 1963 and honorable discharged on January 22, 1969, where he was a Senior Military Policeman, Spec 4, and an expert with the M1 rifle. He a Vietnam Era Veteran and has his name on the Lowellville Veteran Memorial for those who served and/or gave their life during the Vietnam War.
He was a social member of the Hubbard VFW Post 3767 where he was well loved and was known as "The man in black". He was a member of the East Side Civics and visited daily when still working the mill well into his 70's. He ate breakfast every morning at C's Restaurant in Hubbard. He ate lunch all the time at Golden Dawn Restaurant, before closing down for a time, where he ordered grilled cheese and chili every time. He was a Hubbard Auxiliary Police Officer for a time, where he provided security for festivals, football games and parades.
Bruce loved dancing the jitterbug and slow dancing with this wife Sally, night fishing, poker parties with his family, the Cleveland Indians and the Cleveland Browns. He attended many Indians games with his family, and went to two World Series games with his sons and nephews. He loved and watched hometown hero Kelly Pavlik fight twice in Atlantic City, including the fight when Pavlik became a champion. He was on the "Cash Explosion" game show where he won a nice sum of money. He loved country music, especially Johnny Cash and country from the 60's and 70's but had a love of all music in general and loved singing along to it.
The love of his life for 51 years, Sally Snyder Dripps whom he married August 15, 1959, passed away May 28, 2011.
He was well loved and will be sadly missed by his family; his sons Bruce L. (Brenda Taylor) Dripps Jr., Paul Dripps both of Hubbard, grandchildren Cassandra (Ken) Arci, Amanda (Tim) Karpinski, Jeremy (Amanda) Dripps, Blaise Eckles, Kayla (Aaron) Wolfe, Michelle (Joe) Smith, Chris (Nikki) Merrell, Star (Josh) Burnett, and Joseph Perry and 30 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.
He also leaves his siblings, Frank (Jo) Dripps III of Batavia, Illinois, Robin Forman of Youngstown, Karen (Ken) Chuey of Youngstown, Barbara (David) Leonard of Big Spring, Texas, and Richard (Diana) Dripps of North Jackson, Ohio.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Sally, his son Keith, his daughter Mary Beth, grandchild Ashley Dripps, great-grandson Brady Burnett and siblings Dwanda Bell, Jim Dripps, and Jeff Dripps.
There will be services held at 1 PM on Sunday February 11, 2024 with calling hours prior to the service from 11:00 AM to 1 PM at Stewart-Kyle Funeral Home.
Bruce will be laid to rest at Hubbard Union Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hubbard VFW Post 3767 at 710 West Liberty Street Hubbard, Ohio 44425.
Family and friends are invited to visit the funeral home's website at www.stewart-kyle.com to share memories and condolences.
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Published by Mahoning Matters on Feb. 8, 2024.