Sarah Tripp

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Sarah Ada Tripp, 87, of Jonesboro died Monday, April 28, 2008, at her home.

She was born Nov. 2, 1920, at Wolf Lake, Ill., daughter of John and Alice May Forsee Hamel. She and Earl Tripp were married May 14, 1937. He died Nov. 27, 2001.

Tripp worked early in her life at Johns Manville Corp. in Waukegan, Ill. While employed there, she was given the Meritorious War Service Award for her invention of a machine that applied a chemical preservative to fighter plane gaskets. This preservative increased production materials during World War II.

The family then moved to Southern Illinois. She worked for the Heel Factory and 25 years at International/Florsheim Shoe Co., both in Anna, Ill. She continued to work later in her years as a cook at Southern BBQ in Anna.

She was a member of Gospel Assembly Church in Anna.

Survivors include a daughter, Jeanette Crowell of Marion, Ill.; two sons, Jim and Mervyn Tripp of Anna; a sister, Eva Vines of Zion, Ill.; a half brother, Otis Hamel of Jonesboro; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, four sisters, two brothers, a half sister and a half brother.

Friends may call at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, and Thursday from 11 a.m. until time of service.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Gospel Assembly Church, with the Revs. Dennis Fitzsimmons and Gaylen Holden officiating. Burial will be in Jonesboro Cemetery.