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| 'They went together': couple, aged 100 and 98, die in California wildfires | 'They went together': couple, aged 100 and 98, die in California wildfires |
| (4 months later) | |
| Charles and Sara Rippey, who met in grade school, could not have navigated life without each other, son says | |
| Associated Press | |
| Wed 11 Oct 2017 03.07 BST | |
| Last modified on Wed 11 Oct 2017 15.47 BST | |
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| Mike Rippey stood on Tuesday among the ash and charred debris of the California home where his 100-year-old father, Charles, and 98-year-old mother, Sara, had died in the raging wine country wildfires. | Mike Rippey stood on Tuesday among the ash and charred debris of the California home where his 100-year-old father, Charles, and 98-year-old mother, Sara, had died in the raging wine country wildfires. |
| Rippey said his brother had discovered their bodies after driving out to the Napa home on Monday and managing to get past security. | Rippey said his brother had discovered their bodies after driving out to the Napa home on Monday and managing to get past security. |
| His father appeared to have been heading to his mother’s room when he was overcome by the smoke and flames. | His father appeared to have been heading to his mother’s room when he was overcome by the smoke and flames. |
| “My father certainly wouldn’t have left her,” Mike Rippey said. | “My father certainly wouldn’t have left her,” Mike Rippey said. |
| The couple had met in grade school in Wisconsin and been together ever since, celebrating their 75th anniversary last year. | The couple had met in grade school in Wisconsin and been together ever since, celebrating their 75th anniversary last year. |
| Rippey, 71, said he and his siblings couldn’t imagine how either parent would have navigated life if just one had survived the flames. | Rippey, 71, said he and his siblings couldn’t imagine how either parent would have navigated life if just one had survived the flames. |
| “We knew there’s no way they would ever be happy, whoever was the last one. So they went together, and that’s the way it worked,” he said stoically. | “We knew there’s no way they would ever be happy, whoever was the last one. So they went together, and that’s the way it worked,” he said stoically. |
| In the charred remains of the home, only metal and porcelain survived to testify to the couple’s long life together. There were coffee cups along a low sill; two metal chairs, side-by-side by a patio table; and a porcelain tea set of white and soft washes of blue, some pieces still intact. | In the charred remains of the home, only metal and porcelain survived to testify to the couple’s long life together. There were coffee cups along a low sill; two metal chairs, side-by-side by a patio table; and a porcelain tea set of white and soft washes of blue, some pieces still intact. |
| Charles Rippey – nicknamed “Peach” as a toddler for his chubby cheeks – were among at least 15 victims who have died in the fierce, fast-moving fires that started on Sunday and raged through neighborhoods. | Charles Rippey – nicknamed “Peach” as a toddler for his chubby cheeks – were among at least 15 victims who have died in the fierce, fast-moving fires that started on Sunday and raged through neighborhoods. |
| Authorities are expecting other older people to be among the dead – people who, like the Rippeys, might not have been able to move fast enough to beat the flames. | Authorities are expecting other older people to be among the dead – people who, like the Rippeys, might not have been able to move fast enough to beat the flames. |
| Mike Rippey said his mother had previously suffered a stroke. | Mike Rippey said his mother had previously suffered a stroke. |
| Seventeen wildfires raging across parts of seven counties have destroyed more than 2,000 homes, businesses and other structures. | Seventeen wildfires raging across parts of seven counties have destroyed more than 2,000 homes, businesses and other structures. |
| The wildfires rank among the five deadliest in California history, and officials expect the death toll to increase as the scope of destruction becomes clear. | The wildfires rank among the five deadliest in California history, and officials expect the death toll to increase as the scope of destruction becomes clear. |
| At least 100 people were injured, and more than 200 people have been reported missing in Sonoma County alone, though many may be safe but unable to use damaged communication systems. | At least 100 people were injured, and more than 200 people have been reported missing in Sonoma County alone, though many may be safe but unable to use damaged communication systems. |
| Mike Rippey was in London and boarding a flight to California when his brother called and told him their parents had died. | Mike Rippey was in London and boarding a flight to California when his brother called and told him their parents had died. |
| The couple attended the University of Wisconsin and married in 1942 before Charles Rippey served as a US army engineer in the second world war. He became an executive with the Firestone tire company. | The couple attended the University of Wisconsin and married in 1942 before Charles Rippey served as a US army engineer in the second world war. He became an executive with the Firestone tire company. |
| Rippey said he had no plans to rebuild the home. | Rippey said he had no plans to rebuild the home. |
| “Without them, it doesn’t mean a thing,” he said. “It’s gone. They’re gone.” | “Without them, it doesn’t mean a thing,” he said. “It’s gone. They’re gone.” |
| California | |
| Wildfires | |
| Natural disasters and extreme weather | |
| news | |
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