Lolita Burgon "Billie" Tripp

1923 - 2025

Lolita "Billie" Burgon Tripp

1923 - 2025

Cottonwood Heights/Midvale UT-Lolita Willette (Billie) Burgon Tripp, 102, passed away on October 13, 2025 in Midvale, Utah. Billie was born on May 2, 1923 to Ernest Lionel Burgon and Alice (Shulsen) Burgon. She was the tenth of eleven children.

Billie grew up on her family's farm in West Jordan, Utah. She shared many stories of her youth and had fond memories of family gatherings, animal antics, and school friends. She graduated from Jordan High School and attended LDS Business College.

On December 4, 1942 she married Elmer Willard Tripp in Van Nuys, California where he was stationed with the Navy. They returned to West Jordan and to this union were born five children: Judy, Susan, Ernest (Ernie), Andrew (Andy), and Tracy.

Billie worked as a secretary at a junior high school, a law office and, most notably, at First Baptist Church, Salt Lake City. Besides her career, she was also involved in several civic organizations including the West Jordan PTA, the American Legion Auxiliary, The Boy Scouts of America, and her election precinct.

Billie was an artist. In high school she entered a national drawing contest and won. She perfected calligraphy; sketched and painted popular nursery rhymes for her children's bedroom walls. She excelled at crochet, and stitched intricate costumes for her children who performed in dance recitals.

After Billie was hit by a golf ball she took up bowling, including lessons. At age 99, she had an average of 140, could pick up the hardest spares and was a member of the senior team at a Sandy City bowling center. Her entire life she never stopped learning. It was her great joy and secret to a long, healthy life.

Family ties were very important to Billie so she invested her time and energy into showing her love to all of them, whether through a meal, a listening ear, or a helping hand.

Billie is survived by her children, Judy (Rick) Spratling; Ernie (Ruth) Tripp; Andy (Linda) Tripp; Tracy Tripp; grandchildren, Melissa (Russ) Venable; Amy Spratling (Will Warlick); Eric Tripp; Dallas Shaine (Mariana) Tripp; Zachary (Chelsea) Tripp; Teresa Tripp; Derek (Caitlin) Tripp; 10 great grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Billie was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer; her daughter, Susan; and four grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held in the spring.