Obituary: Marion C. 'Rib' Ribble

Herald and News
Klamath Falls, Oregon
December 29, 2003

Marion C. "Rib" Ribble, died Dec. 17, 2003 in Klamath Falls of natural causes.

An open house and celebration of life will be held in the afternoon on Jan. 31, 2004 at 47690 N. Highway 97, North of Collier Park adjacent to Spring Creek Motel. Ward's Klamath Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Ribble was born in Berkeley, Calif, on Nov. 17, 1913, to Harry C. and May Eda (Bauer) Ribble. He grew up in the Bay Area and took frequent trips to Yosemite National Park and spent many summers hiking in the High Sierras. He particularly liked Vogelsang and Tuolumne Meadows. His early interests included home construction, photography and drawing. He built his first home, which still stands in Los Gatos, Calif. when he was 17 years old.

In 1940 he traveled to Hawaii and worked in Honolulu constructing warehouses for the military

and aircraft for Pan American Airways. He witnessed Dec. 7, 1941 as a civilian. Following the war, he returned to the Bay Area and his beloved Yosemite. In 1950, while skiing he met, fell in love and married Doris L. Goodman of Santa Monica, Calif.

In 1954 he packed his family and belongings and moved to Spring Creek, five miles north of Chiloquin. There he began clearing 100 acres of land for a residence and motel. The next 25 years were spent raising children, designing and building the home and motel, and working as a construction foreman in the Klamath Basin. He worked for various companies on major construction projects including; Johns Manville, Weyerhauser, Tulana Farms, Oregon Technical Institute, Swan Lake Moulding, Pacific Gas Transmission and Crater Lake Lodge.

He was a lifelong member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Jointers of America. A gifted designer, artist and carpenter his talents can be seen throughout the family home on Spring Creek. He was active in Audubon, The Nature Conservancy and Friends of Crater Lake. Work on the family home and in his shop occupied much of his time.

He is survived by Doris, his wife of 53 years, Peter Ribble and Nancy Johnston of Bend, and Marianne Velliquette of Clatskanie, Ore; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Klamath Falls or the Chiloquin Volunteer Ambulance.