LIMINGTON- Forrest E. Tripp, age 87, passed away on June 29, 2022, surrounded by family.
He was born on Nov. 20, 1934, son of Millard & Gertrude (Kimball) Tripp. He graduated from Thornton Academy at the age of 17 where he enjoyed playing football. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving on the USS Tanner for three years, going above the Arctic Circle twice on sonar mapping missions. Subsequently, he graduated from the Electrical Program at SMVTI, in 1958. Forrest grew up on a farm on Flag Pond Road in North Saco, later buying it to raise his family. He & Ruth, his loving wife of 60 years, were very happy with the country life raising their three children there. Many years later, they moved further into the country, to their new home in Limington, enjoying their retirement years, living ‘just down the road’ from their daughter Karen & her family.
He loved hunting, (ice)fishing & orienteering with 'map and compass'. He enjoyed his woodworking workshop, making furniture & cabinets with his son Larry & then gifting them to family. He loved to plan upcoming outings, studying the gazetteer & topographic maps in great details. Forrest diligently recorded his & his wife’s family histories. He loved all the family get-togethers: BBQ's; potluck suppers; local bean suppers; holiday gatherings, & of course the annual Tripp Family Clambake. He could fix anything & was always helping build or repair his & his childrens’ homes. He (& Ruth) always loved the north-western York County area… in their early years going to the country dances … later touring the back-roads though the foothills, often eating a picnic lunch, while stopped to enjoy the scenic view.
Forrest (& Ruth) also really enjoyed their monthly trips to visit Karen & family in the Albany N.Y. area, where they lived for several years, before moving back to Limington. Forrest loved the time he spent helping his sons as they demonstrated at the local agricultural fairs: Joel with his expert Blacksmithing, & Larry with old wood-working tools.
Forrest enjoyed a great sense of 'dry Maine humor' all his life... right up to his last day. Anyone who met Forrest will remember him as a gentleman they trusted & respected. He was always a quiet leader & a voracious reader, & teacher at his core.
Forrest enjoyed 65 years of as a Mason at 'Saco Lodge', serving as Master of the Lodge in 2000. His other Masonic activities included: York Chapter; Maine Council; & Rainbow as ‘Dad Advisor’, in support of several of his granddaughters. He actively supported his grandsons Boy Scout camping & canoeing trips, along with building Eagle projects in his shop. He (& Ruth) actively followed their nine grandchildrens’ various activities!
He worked for 31 years at the S.D. Warren Paper Mill in Westbrook, Me., maintaining the largest, most complex machines in the state. Forrest was instrumental in the formation of the local branch of the IBEW Electrical Union at the mill, in an effort to increase worker safety, which was severely lacking in the pre-Osha era of the early 1960's. He proudly held all the local Union leadership positions (except president) over the years. Later, he enjoyed his retirement while camping ‘across the state’ with Ruth, & was always active with woodworking & outdoor activities. He often recounted describing a plumbing repair ‘in great detail’ to none other than George H. W. Bush (on an errand for Barbara), as the high-light of his time working for ‘fun-money’ at Home Depot.
Forrest had recently moved to Maine Veterans Home where he enjoyed new friends and the company of fellow U.S. Service Veterans.
He is predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Ruth P. Tripp, who passed away in 2019; and older brothers Millard Tripp Jr. & Ronald Tripp.
He is survived by his Children: Larry E. Tripp & wife Susan of Saco; Karen G. T. Harmon & her husband Michael of Limington; Joel Tripp & his wife Anne of Saco ... Siblings: Janet Grant of Scarborough, Nancy Tripp of Saco, & Leslie Tripp of Saco ... Grandchildren: Katelynn; Jacob; Hannah; Brian, Laura; Jason; Kerianne; Dana & Forrest ... also seven great grandchildren.
Visitation will be on Tuesday July 5 from 1 - 3 PM at the Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home, 71 Maple St., in Cornish, followed by a 3 PM funeral service officiated by Pastor Will Rankin. A Masonic graveside service will be held for family & dear friends on Wednesday at 10 AM at South Buxton Cemetery. Online condolence messages can be submitted at the funeral home website, www.mainefuneral.com