Thomas G. Tripp

Thomas Gilbert Tripp, age 77, of Marion, NC went to be with the Lord Sunday, December 17, 2017 at home.

Gilbert, born in Greenville, SC, was the son of the late Joseph and Louise Tripp.  He spent his life as a minister serving Churches of Christ in the Carolinas and Georgia, and as a missionary in Belize, Central America.  He was a graduate of Memphis School of Preaching.  In later years, he taught Bible at the North Carolina School of Biblical Studies in Winston-Salem.  At the time of his death, he was serving as an elder at the Rutherford Church of Christ where he taught Bible Class.  He owned Tripp Bible Institute, a Bible correspondence school, where he has taught over 600 students.

In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by his first wife, Jeanette Frazier Tripp; his sister, Janie Poindexter; and brother-in-law, William Poindexter.

Left behind to cherish his memories are his wife of 17 years, Leatha Kelley Tripp; four daughters, Denise Tripp Martin (William), Kathy Kelley Cabe, Karen Kelley Hughes (Randall), and Kendall Kelley Waugh (Darren); four sons, Thomas Michael Tripp (Sandy), Peter Alan Tripp (Harold), Russell Paul Tripp (Barbara), and Alton Rayburn Kelley, Jr. (April); 18 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM on Thursday, December 21, 2017 at Rutherford Church of Christ, 925 US 221 S, Rutherfordton, NC 28139.  A Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 AM at the church with Minister Jim Hobbs and Sam Adams officiating.  Burial will be held at 4:00 PM following the service at Antioch Christian Church Cemetery, 1600 Fork Shoals Rd, Greenville, SC 29605.

In lieu of flowers, you may make donations to the Gilbert Tripp Memorial Scholarship Fund: 3950 Forest Hill Irene Road, Memphis, TN 28125-2560 Attn:  Joyce Phillips.