Bob Bruce Gripe

Bobby Bruce Gripe, a longtime resident of Maramec, Oklahoma, died Tuesday, July 30, 2019, at Southern Oaks Care Center in Pawnee, Oklahoma at the age of 91 years.
Bobby was born on November 12, 1927, near Casey, Pawnee County, Oklahoma. He was the son of Millard N. Gripe and Hazel M. (Willis) Gripe. Prior to graduation from Maramec High School, Bobby enlisted in the Army and trained as a paratrooper. An injury during training ended his military career and he returned to Maramec to graduate with his class. Following high school, Bobby attended Oklahoma A&M University, now OSU. Bobby was united in marriage to Betty Delores Ellis on August 28, 1949. During the first years of their marriage, the two lived in several states while Bobby was employed as a boilermaker. With the impending birth of their first child, the couple returned to Maramec and purchased the local telephone company. Bobby had many careers during his life. In addition to boiler making and operating the telephone company, he was a roughneck in the oilfield, owned a fleet of dump trucks, operated a garage and service station in Maramec, worked as a carpenter and finally retired after many years as a construction inspector for OSU.
Survivors are daughter Debora Rolland of Maramec, son Dan Gripe and his wife Ginger of Stillwater, Oklahoma; five grandchildren Chris Gripe and wife Nikki, Jennifer Gripe, Sarah Duncan, Justin Rolland, Angela Piotrowski; six great grandchildren Emily (Roberts) Naugle, J.J. Chapell, Lilly, Kenadi and Carmine Rolland, Sariah Frazier and a host of other relatives and friends who will mourn his passing. In addition to Betty and his parents, Bobby was preceded in death by his brothers and sister Buddy Eugene Gripe, Lola Maude (Gripe) Robinson and Ernest Gerald Gripe.
Graveside services will be 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 3, 2019, at the IOOF Maramec Cemetery under the direction of Poteet Funeral Home & Cremation Services. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Maramec United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice. Friends may share a memory with the family online at www.poteetfuneralhome.com.