Sue Rippon Meikle was born August 11, 1937, on the Eastern Shore in Nassawadox, Virginia. She was the only child of Roberta Virginia Churn Rippon and William Lee Rippon. Her grandfather and father were well known in harness racing circles, and she was in frequent demand to pose with the winners. She lived and attended schools in Eastville, Virginia. After high school, she attended the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida and Pan American Business School in Richmond, Virginia. She was the Assistant Buyer for Publishing and Printing for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
She moved to Baltimore, Maryland and worked for Johns Hopkins University for several years in the Medical Psychology Department working on an alcohol study. She also had summer jobs in Reno, Nevada at the University of Nevada Clinic. She then moved on to San Francisco to work in a Life Insurance Company office.
Sue returned to Washington, D.C. to work with the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine. While there, she met John Meikle, who grew up in Hunter, Oklahoma, through mutual friends at a Republican Party Meet the Candidate event. They married May 16, 1970, and honeymooned in Canada, coming back to Arlington, Virginia to live until John was transferred with his job to Denver, Colorado. John worked for the U.S. Agricultural Department.
When John's job transferred them to Stillwater, Oklahoma, Sue decided to finish her education and attended Oklahoma State University, graduating in 1973 with a degree in Interior Design. Once again, they were on the move, taking them back to Washington D.C. then to Statesboro, Georgia. Here, Sue began working for the University of Georgia as Project Manager of Interior Design for the University Expansion Project. They then moved to Edmond, Oklahoma , closer to the family farm when John's health began to fail. They moved to Touchmark in 2015, and John passed away in December of that year.
Sue loved traveling all over the world and held a special place in her heart for Scotland. She has been a long-standing member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She has had a few dear pets, her dogs Maggie, named after her best friend, and Gracie. Sue was an avid reader and had an extensive library due to being a member of several book clubs She also enjoyed painting and drawing as hobbies. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church since she was aged 11. Sue and John were both very outgoing, making a lot of friends throughout their moves around the country. Sue was devoted to her family and kept up with them through phone calls and letters. John's family had a farm near Hunter, Oklahoma that opened up in the Cherokee Strip Land Run. He relied on the Schultz family to farm it for him. Sue has long held a special relationship with the Schultz family and considered them close friends.
As Sue's health declined, she moved to Touchmark Assisted Living. She was blessed by having dear friends assist her in her final years and in turn, blessed them. She passed from this life on Friday, November 15, 2024, with those friends in loving attendance.
Sue is preceded in death by her parents and her husband John. Family who mourns her passing are Tom "Rip" and Jennifer Rippon, Neil and Julie Hamilton, Robin Hamilton, and John Lee Meikle Ewing. Sue was a true gentlewoman and kept close ties with her Eastern Shore roots, often mentioning new ventures opening in the area. Her friend, Margaret MacKinzie kept her up to date on these matters. Sue had many friends who loved her dearly and are saddened by her passing.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, November 25, 2024, at Matthews Funeral Home Chapel with Interment at White Cemetery in Hunter, Oklahoma.