The phrase «they Lived happily ever after and died in one day» was prophetic for an elderly couple from California. Charles and Sarah Rippey lived together for 75 years and died in his house during a fire in NAPAthat broke out on October 9 around 10 PM.
Destroyed homes on Westgate Drive in Napa where an elderly couple died in the #AtlasFire pic.twitter.com/RKbTpivwsn
— Michael Barba (@mdbarba) October 11, 2017
Charles Rippey, who in July celebrated its 100th anniversary, for 75 years has been married to his wife Sarah. According to their eldest son Mike, they met 90 years ago in Wisconsin, when I was still in school.
Charles, who was nicknamed Peach, graduated from the University of Wisconsin majoring in mechanical engineering in 1939 and continued service in the Army corps of engineers during world war II. In 1945 he began working in the company engaged in the production of tire and rubber Firestone.
Just months after celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary, Sara and Charles Rippey die in Napa Valley wildfires https://t.co/XzZoKBuqtA pic.twitter.com/ebk3yAmfuK
— Santa Maria Times (@SantaMariaTimes) October 11, 2017
Sarah, wife was named Queen, also graduated from the University of Wisconsin and was an ardent bridge player and homemaker, raising five children. The couple married in 1942 before the war started Charles in North Africa, France and Italy.
After their children grew up, most of them moved to California. To be closer to their relatives, pensioners settled in NAPA. In March Charles and Sarah celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in the circle of their extended family.
Their son Mike, who is already 71 years old, shared warm memories about his parents: «They lived a long life. It was a great life, and they were happy until the last minute.»
Their names aren’t the NFL,NBC,Fake News, they are Charles & Sara Rippey, married 62 yrs. 12+ have died, 200 missing in California Fires. pic.twitter.com/xFyGzhP9s2
— The Devil 😈 (@TheDevilDiavolo) October 11, 2017
Their nurse was trying to save an old couple, but «she barely managed to get out of the fire and were able to get to them.» When she called his younger brother Mike, Chuck, said that throughout the fire, and she can’t find their parents. Soon began to fail and the roof to break a window, so the woman ran out of the house to escape.
As it turned out, during the fire, Charles tried to reach his wife, who was in his room and could not get up because he was paralyzed for 5 years. Experts said that their remains were found very close to each other.
Because his parents were quite elderly, the family had often discussed what would happen when one of them dies first: «We, children, always wondered how it would be if one of them dies and the other survives. They just couldn’t live without each other. The fact that they left together, probably what they would have wanted».
On Tuesday, the couples sons, Chuck and Mike had been near charred home of their parents, where the couple lived for 35 years. According to them, virtually nothing left except remnants, reminiscent of the entrance door, garage and old Lexus.
#AtlasFire [update] off of Atlas Peak Rd, south of Lake Berryessa (Napa County) remains at 25,000 acres. pic.twitter.com/K7XJnoPGGm
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) October 10, 2017
