Isabel Martina (Tall) Rippons

Isabel Rippons, 93 years old, died January 30, 2017 with her family by her side on Hoopers Island, MD.

She was born Isabel Martina Tall on June 17, 1923. Her mother was Elby Tall and her father Daniel Tall, who was the island blacksmith. She was the middle child of three daughters. Her beloved sisters were Dolly Tolley and Florence Johnson. Whenever they were together, you could hear their laughter for miles.

In the year 1940, her future husband, Irvin Rippons, who delivered the mail, stole a kiss on the front porch of her house after walking her home from a party. The next day, she was sitting on the fence by the mailbox waiting for him to deliver the mail. It was in that same house that they shared their lives, raised their children, and grew old together making countless memories with their family. It was in this home that Isabel baked her infamous lemon and chocolate meringue pies, canned figs, read countless books (especially her Bible), prayed for her family and enjoyed coffee and long conversations with loved ones.

She is survived by her daughters Shirley Simmons and Nancy Powley, granddaughters Tammy Doring, Jill Hartwell, Stacey Simmons, Amanda Powley and Amy Powley. Grandsons Steven Simmons, Bradley Simmons and Aaron Powley, great grandchildren Rachel Doring, Caroline Doring, Ben Hartwell, Kate Hartwell, Ashley Blake, Courtney Wright, Alexis Todd, Lily Simmons, Henry Solomon Powley and Isabel Harman, great-great grandchildren Gabbie Blake, Sophia Blake, and Summer Wright.

Isabel was a long and active member of the Riverside Wesleyan Church for years and spent many hours cleaning the church and preparing Sunday school lessons.

When her children grew older, she went to school and became a nurse. She worked at the State Hospital. She was kind and compassionate, and loved her patients and the years she spent there.

Isabel dedicated her life to God and family. She took care of her husband in his ailing years. He lovingly called her his angel. Despite her own declining health, she continued to garden and tend to her home and find little ways to show us all her love. She was an attentive grandmother, always feeding her grandchildren food, wisdom and guidance.

We are mourning the loss of our family’s last matriarch. We shall miss her touch and tender embrace, but find solace in the knowledge that she is where she has longed to be for some time. She is now residing in her heavenly home, greeted by the arms of her Lord, parents, sisters, husband, infant daughter Martina, and her beloved son Irvin.

Pallbearers will be Philip Todd, Steven Simmons, Brandon Harman, Jerimiah Blake, Bradley Simmons and Aaron Powley.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, February 6, 2017 at 12:30 pm at Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge with Rev. Benjamin Booth officiating. Interment will follow at the Maryland Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 11:30 to 12:30. Memorial contribution can be made to Riverside Wesleyan Church, P.O. Box 164, Fishing Creek, MD 21634.