Obituary of Sam Trippi

Salvatore “Sam” Ralph Trippi, 92, husband of the late Minnie Ruth Mills Trippi, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. Mr. Trippi was born in Jamestown, NY to the late Joseph Trippi, Sr. and Laura Piazza Trippi, immigrants from Sicily. He was the youngest of 10 children and the last surviving member of his family. After high school, Sam attended U.S. Marine Corps Boot Camp at Parris Island, SC, and then met his wife Ruth while stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC. They married in 1952 and had six children, thirteen grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren. They were married for 66 years before Ruth passed away in 2018. Sam spent 30 years serving our country in the U.S. Marine Corps (Staff Sergeant) and the U.S. Air Force (Chief Master Sergeant). He was a veteran of both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. During his military career, he was stationed at bases in Hawaii, Kansas, Brussels-Belgium, Saigon, England, Colorado, Ohio, and Texas. After retiring from the Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant, Sam moved the family to Dothan, Alabama where he worked at Michelin for 10 years. They relocated to Greenville, SC, where he worked for Textron Lycoming (now Allied Signal) until retiring in 2000 when they finally settled in Fountain Inn, SC. Sam loved walking around downtown Fountain Inn, talking to everyone that would listen. He would often stop by Grand South Bank, Burdette’s Hardware, Fletcher’s, and other businesses to get coffee for himself and pens, notepads, and candy for the children and grandchildren. Some people may not have known his name, but if you mentioned the man on Main Street wearing a military ball cap and carrying a white styrofoam coffee cup, they’d know exactly who you were talking about. Sam was an accomplished athlete throughout his life, notably as a high school football star, a Marine Corps boxer, and a regular on the racquetball tournament circuits. He was also known for his affection for the Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed, particularly his beloved dog Patton. He was an active member of Bethany Baptist Church, The Gideons International, the Marine Corps League, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Surviving are two sons, Samuel Trippi, and Mark Trippi with wife Paula; four daughters, Jennifer Carne with husband Jerre, Laura Trippi, Diane Rhoden with husband George, and Linda Wilburn with husband Dan; thirteen grandchildren, Erin McConkey with husband Travis, Stephanie Trippi, Brittany Tucker, Cara Carne, John Trippi, Joseph Trippi with wife Jessica, Addie Patterson with husband Cameron, Caleb Trippi, Rebekah Rhoden, Forrest Tucker, Landon Trippi, Lacey Roberts with husband Dave, and Trey Rhoden; and fifteen great-grandchildren, Jackson, Knox, Ella, Mills, Julianna, Jordan, Braylon, Elly, Emy, Grayson, Sean, Ruth, Thomas, David, and Walker. Sam’s parents, five brothers, and four sisters all predeceased him. The family will receive friends between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday, October 21, 2022 at Fletcher’s Funeral Service in Fountain Inn, SC. A Celebration of Sam’s Life, with Military Honors, will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, 2022 in the mausoleum chapel at Graceland East Memorial Park in Simpsonville, SC, followed by a private family burial. Memorials may be made to USMC Toys 4 Tots Foundation, 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive Triangle, VA 22172; or to Gideon’s International, PO Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214; or to Open Arms Hospice, 1836 W. Georgia Road, Simpsonville, SC 29680.