George Karrip, Jr.

Karrip, George Jr. passed away Wednesday, February 14, 2018 at the age of 92. George was born on September 30, 1925 in Grand Rapids to George and Rose (Ferris) Karrip. He was born at St. Mary’s hospital and lived in the family's first home at 726 Jefferson. The family then moved to James street where he graduated from Central High School. Upon graduation from high school he joined the Marine Corp in 1943 and was soon shipped overseas. Prior to joining the Marine Corp, he had met his sweet Lorraine (Sayfie) and she would later become his wife.  He enrolled in flight mechanics school in the Marine Corp to learn how to work on airplanes and his first assignment was the F-4U Corsair plane where he was stationed in the Marshall Islands. His biggest battles were in Okinawa and Hiroshima, Japan. When the war ended in 1945 he was put in charge of arranging sport activities, he organized baseball and softball in Omura, Japan. Later he would spend two to three more months in South Island Kyushu, Japan. When he was discharged from the Marine Corp in March of 1946 he returned home to Grand Rapids, married Lorraine a little over a year later and went to work in Karrip's Super Market. George managed the grocery section, his brother Bill cut meat and his dad managed produce. When the business was sold, he went to work for Shinner's Market on Monroe. After Shinner’s he worked at the family owned 76 gas station.  Later in life he moved to the auto leasing business where he would retire from after 30 years.  He was preceded in death by his wife Lorraine in June of 1989 and his granddaughter Carolyn in May 1999. He would meet and marry Julie (Ayoub) 4 years later after Lorraine’s passing.  Surviving are his wife, Julie Karrip; his four sons and one daughter, Jimmy Karrip, Daniel (Mary) Karrip, Dr. Carol K. Alvarado, Tom Karrip and Richie Karrip; ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Viewings are at Metcalf and Jonkhoff Funeral home at 4291 Cascade Rd. SE on Friday February 16th from 2-4pm and 6-8pm with a Trisagion service at 7pm.  Funeral services will be held at Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church at 11:00am Saturday, February 17th with a mercy dinner following the service. Contributions may be made to Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 334 La Grave Ave SE, 49503.

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