Bruce L. Dripps Sr. 1940-2024

Bruce was born July 4, 1940, in West Pittsburgh, Pa., a son of Frank Jr. and Helen Rice Dripps.

He was a 1958 graduate of Lowellville High School and a member of First Baptist Church of Hubbard.

Bruce was a machinist and steelworker at Youngstown Sheet and Tube, and later a machinist at Cedar Steel in Youngstown.

He was a member of the Ohio Army National Guard, serving from Feb. 28, 1963 and honorably discharged on Jan. 22, 1969, where he was a senior military policeman, apec 4, and an expert with the M1 rifle. He was a Vietnam Era veteran and has his name on the Lowellville Veteran Memorial for those who served and / or gave their life during the Vietnam War.

He was a social member of Hubbard VFW Post 3767, where he was well-loved and was known as “the man in black.” He was a member of the East Side Civics and visited daily when still working the mill, well into his 70s. He ate breakfast every morning at C’s Restaurant in Hubbard. He ate lunch all the time at Golden Dawn Restaurant, before closing down for a time, where he ordered grilled cheese and chili every time. He was a Hubbard Auxiliary Police Officer for a time, where he provided security for festivals, football games and parades.

Bruce loved dancing the jitterbug, and slow dancing with his wife Sally, night fishing, poker parties with his family, the Cleveland Indians and the Cleveland Browns. He attended many Indians games with his family, and went to two World Series games with his sons and nephews. He loved and watched hometown hero Kelly Pavlik fight twice in Atlantic City, including the fight when Pavlik became a champion. He was on the “Cash Explosion” game show, where he won a nice sum of money. He loved country music, especially Johnny Cash and country from the 60s and 70s, but had a love of all music in general and loved singing along to it.

The love of his life for 51 years, Sally Snyder Dripps, whom he married Aug. 15, 1959, passed away May 28, 2011.

He was well-loved and will be sadly missed by his family: his sons, Bruce L. (Brenda Taylor) Dripps Jr. and Paul Dripps, both of Hubbard; grandchildren, Cassandra (Ken) Arci, Amanda (Tim) Karpinski, Jeremy (Amanda) Dripps, Blaise Eckles, Kayla (Aaron) Wolfe, Michelle (Joe) Smith, Chris (Nikki) Merrell, Star (Josh) Burnett and Joe Perr; and 30 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

He also leaves his siblings, Frank (Jo) Dripps III of Batavia, Illinois, Robin Froman of Youngstown, Karen (Ken) Chuey of Youngstown, Barbara (David) Leonard of Big Spring, Texas and Richard (Diana) Dripps of North Jackson.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Sally; his son, Keith; his daughter, Mary Beth; grandchild, Ashley Dripps; great-grandson, Brady Burnett; and siblings, Dwanda Bell, Jim Dripps and Jeff Dripps.

There will be services held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, with calling hours prior to the service, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Stewart-Kyle Funeral Home.

Bruce will be laid to rest in Hubbard Union Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hubbard VFW Post 3767, 710 W. Liberty St., Hubbard, OH 44425.

Family and friends are invited to visit the funeral home’s website at www.stewart-kyle.com to share memories and condolences.

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