Helen N. Cripe Rice

Helen N. Cripe Rice, 96, of Goshen passed away Thursday, May 18, 2017at Courtyard Healthcare.

She was born on November 28, 1920 in Fort Wayne to Frank and Catherine (Zuber) Armstrong.

On July 19, 1941 she married Edwin Cripe in Fort Wayne.  He died September 28, 1969.  She later married Howard E. Rice in 1972.  He also preceded her in death.

Survivors include five daughters, Cheryl (Tom) Perry of Merritt Island, Florida, Debbie Wiese of Middlebury, Lorie (Bill) Johnson of Glenview, Illinois, Tammy (Bob) Glass of Townsend, Tennessee, and Teresa (Pete) Harrison of Rocklin, California; four sons, Greg (Mary) Cripe of Mahtomedi, Minnesota, Dr. David (Erika) Cripe of White Pigeon, Michigan, Dan (Barb) Cripe of Elkhart, and Gary (Jill) Cripe of Cement City, Michigan; 25 grandchildren; 21 great grandchild; and a great-great grandson.

Also surviving are her sisters, Catherine Justice of Fort Wayne, and Judy (Pete) Olevnik of Rochester, New York; and brothers, Jack (Mary) Armstrong of Windsor, Colorado, and Tom (Rosie) Armstrong of Fort Wayne.

Along with her parents and both husbands, she was preceded in death by five sisters, Wanda White, Dorothy Walker, Ruth Boroff, Shirley Pattison and Pat McMasters; a brother, Ervin Armstrong; and a son-in-law, Max Wiese.

Helen was a homemaker and member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.  She was known as “the dancing lady”, liked to travel, bake, playing cards, collected dolls and playing bingo.  She loved being with her family.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 4 pm on Sunday, May 21, 2017 at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home.  A 10:00 funeral mass will take place Monday, May 22, 2017 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 114 W. Monroe St., Goshen. Rev. Father Anthony Steinacker will officiate.

Burial will follow in Violett Cemetery, Goshen.

Memorials may be given to the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan or United Cancer Services of Elkhart County.