October 9, 2014
The Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics mourns the loss of Eugene Arman Ripperger who passed away peacefully on October 5, 2014 at home with his loving wife of 74 years at his side. He was 100 years and 3 months old.
Arman, as he was known to his family, was born July 7, 1914 in Stover, Missouri, to Winnie and Bill Ripperger, growing up with three brothers and a sister in a small town, learning to do with little and be self-sufficient. His adventures were numerous and are set forth in his book, Always Go Through Slaunchwise, which he published in 2004. Although no one in his family had completed high school, he thirsted for knowledge and pursued a college education, working numerous odd jobs during the Great Depression to support himself and pay educational expenses, attending Kansas City, KS Junior College, and graduating with a BS in Engineering from Kansas State University. On June 23, 1940, he married his sweetheart, Betty Nan Morley, and they began a long partnership.
Rip, as he was known to most of his friends and colleagues, went to work for the Portland Cement Company in Chicago. He joined the US Navy in 1943, where he served as a lieutenant and first radar officer on the USS Minneapolis in the South Pacific. After the war, Rip benefitted from the GI bill to further his education. He earned an MS in Engineering at the University of Texas and subsequently a PhD in Engineering Mechanics at Stanford University in 1952, where he studied under Prof. Norman Goodier.
Dr. Ripperger, as he became known to several generations of aspiring engineers, joined the Engineering faculty at The University of Texas, where he served from 1946 to his retirement as a full professor in 1982. He studied properties of materials, taught classes including Statics and Dynamics, wrote numerous papers and reports, co-wrote a textbook, and mentored many graduate students, who then went on to have distinguished careers themselves. After retirement from The University of Texas, he worked as an expert consultant on legal cases for several years.
He was a careful woodworker, building beautiful benches and tables; a persistent mason, installing patios, steps, and walls around his house; a gardener, carrying on traditions from his Stover days; a loving husband, proud father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; and a steadfast presence of wit, wry humor, practical advice, and literary quotes. He loved his work and his family and was an avid Longhorn fan. We had him for a long time, but we will miss him just the same.
He is survived by his wife, Betty; his daughters, Ann Jolly (of San Rafael, CA), Emily Eddins, and Jane Ripperger-Suhler; his son-in-law, Ken Ripperger-Suhler; his grandchildren, Michelle Jolly (and husband Brian Andersen of San Rafael, CA), Doug Jolly (and wife Heather Jolly of Altadena, CA), Michael Eddins, Hana Leshner (and husband Harry Leshner of Santa Monica, CA), and Daniel Ripperger-Suhler; and his great-grandchildren, Erik Andersen, Thomas Jolly, Makaela Jolly, and one Jolly on the way.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 11 at 2:00 pm at the First Unitarian-Universalist Church of Austin at 4700 Grover Avenue. Donations may be made to The University of Texas at Austin for the Eugene A. Ripperger Scholarship Fund in Engineering Mechanics in lieu of flowers, at http://links.utexas.edu/vsedmp, or by mail to the Cockrell School of Engineering, 301 E. Dean Keeton St C2100, Austin, TX 78712-2100. Please include the scholarship name with the gift.
