Dr. Earl H. Rippie, Jr., 74, owner and director of the Pennsauken Animal Hospital, passed away unexpectedly on June 24, 2016. A staple of the community since he opened his practice in Pennsauken 45 years ago, Dr. Rippie was known for his warm, engaging personality.

“He had a real intimacy with his clients,” says Joanne Rounsaville, office administrator and veterinary technician at the Pennsauken Animal Hospital since 1979. “People would walk in the door and feel extremely comfortable. He maintained a warm, homey practice with a small-town feel. He would work seven days a week to help take care of his patients, even meeting people late at night for emergencies for their pets.”

However, Dr. Rippie’s veterinary practice was anything than small-town. Clients came from as close as down the street, but they also came as far as North Carolina. He was affiliated with professional organizations such as Feline Practitioners, AVDS, and NJVMA. He served on the board of the North American Veterinary Conference for many years as the organization’s president in 1999 and secretary treasurer from 2000-2013. He was a founding member of the Latin American Veterinarian Conference and a signer of that organization’s document of foundation. In addition, Rippie traveled all around the world as a guest speaker on veterinary dentistry.

“He was a very prominent black veterinarian who went through a lot of hardships in 60’s and 70’s,” added Rounsaville. “That fact that he built a successful practice in those times and maintained it for all these years is quite an accomplishment.”

Dr. Rippie is survived by his mother, Stella  B. Rippie; Jewell Rippie; Joanne Rounsaville; his children Mark (Yvette), Christopher (Debra) Rippie, and  Ashley (Rick) Melchiorre; grandchildren Jordyn, Anessa, Tyler,  Kayla , and Evan; his brother Michael (Jackie) Cooper; two nephews, Jeremy and Jared Cooper; a host of cousins,  other relatives, and friends; as well as his faithful dog, Rudy.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, July 16, 3:00 p.m. at the Browning Hess Farm, 824 N. Lenola Rd., Moorestown, N.J. Internment was held on July 6 at  Houston-Whitworth Cemetery in Bell Buckle, TN, where Dr. Rippie was born.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Pennsauken Animal Hospital, 6717 Crescent Blvd. Pennsauken, N.J.  08110.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Pennsauken Animal Hospital is currently looking for a full-time veterinarian to take over Dr. Rippie’s practice. As details become available, All Around Pennsauken will share this information with our readers.