Dean Fripp

Mr. Claude Dean Fripp, age 63, of Knoxville, GA died Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC.  A graveside service will be held 2:00 PM Friday, October 31, 2014 at Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery. Rev. C. J. Yarbrough will officiate.

     Mr. Fripp was born January 12, 1951 in Columbus, GA, the son of Elois Miles Fripp of Ellaville, GA and the late Claude Francis Fripp, Jr. He was a 1969 graduate of Webster High School in Preston GA and after graduation completed an enlistment in the US Army completing tours in Okinawa, Japan and Ft. Monmouth, NJ. While in the Army he gained the training to repair, maintain and understand electronics and served as a radar technician, assigned to an early warning defense site. Once he completed his enlistment, he utilized and built on the training he had received. He completed a two year program with South Georgia Technical College and continued training and courses his entire life. In 1980 he obtained an entry level position in the Biomedical Engineering Department at the Medical Center of Central Georgia where he advanced over a 20+ year career to earn the title of Director of Clinical Engineering and Communications  and where he grew the department. He opted in 1991 to take an early retirement and begin his own biomedical engineering business, Jireh Systems, providing service to many hospitals and other medical facilities in the middle Georgia area. He was a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician and is a former member and past president of the Georgia Biomedical Instrumentation Society.

      Mr. Fripp had a heart for pointing others to Christ, especially young people. He did this through

vast knowledge of the Bible, a crazy sense of humor and some unorthodox and out of the box thinking. His goal was always to reach the unchurched. Although he had been ministering for many years, he became ordained in 2008 through United Christian Faith Ministries. He was a member of Fellowship Community Church. Dean was a long time resident of Crawford County.

      Mr. Fripp was elected to the Crawford County Board of Commissioners and was serving his second term. He had been serving as the Chairman of that Commission for the last three years.  He was an avid horse lover and motorcycle rider and very much enjoyed the company that came along with both.  He had a deep love and devotion to his family, which spanned much farther than his biological family.

      Survivors include his loving wife Michelle of Knoxville, GA, mother Elois Fripp of Ellaville, GA, daughter Stacie Dunlow and her husband Brian of Windsor, NC, son Elisha Fripp and his wife Sarah of Macon, GA, son Corey Fripp and his wife Amy of Macon, GA, his precious and prized grandchildren Lauren, Logan, Caleb, Miles, Maggie, and Emily. Also surviving are siblings Donna McLaurin and husband Dwight of Columbus, GA, Elaine Franklin and husband Jerry of Ellaville, GA, Deborah Davis and husband Mike of Jeffersontown, KY, Darlene Rustin and husband Ray of Buena Vista, GA, Vicki Yarbrough and husband Rufus of Ellaville, GA, Troy Fripp and wife Sharon of Ellaville, GA and many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter Julie Fripp, his father Claude Francis Fripp, Jr, his brother Lancy Fripp and sister-in-law Sheila Fripp.

     Visitation will be held Thursday, October 30, 2014 from 7:00 until 9:00 PM at Watson-Giddens Funeral Home in Ellaville. 

     Honorary Pallbearers will include Shane Fripp, Stephen Fripp, Pete Yarbrough, Josh Mattson, Brian Barnhill, and Colby Rustin.

     Donations may be made to Heaven's Saints Motorcycle Ministry, 4036 GA Hwy 127 W, Reynolds, GA 31076.

     You may sign the online guest book and share your own special thoughts and memories with the family of Mr. Fripp by visiting Watson-Giddens Funeral Home’s web site at www.watsongiddensfuneralhome.com

     Watson-Giddens Funeral Home is in charge of these arrangements.