Mary Susan Ripley Goodykoontz of Radford, Va., died on Sunday, August 16, 2015. She was born in Roanoke, Va., on February 7, 1929.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis Droit (Bud) Ripley and Verna Holt Ripley; husband, William Oakey Goodykoontz; son, Sam Brock; brothers, Col. George H. Ripley, USMC (Ret.), Maj. Michael J. Ripley, USMC, and Col. John W. Ripley, USMC (Ret.); sister Patricia Ann Devine; and nephew Walter S. Devine.
Susie graduated from Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic School in Roanoke in 1946, and then from Nazareth College in Nazareth, Ky., in 1950, with a Bachelor of Music degree. Immediately afterwards she taught in numerous schools in McDowell County, W.Va., as a music teacher and band director.
She lived in Radford from 1956 until her death. While in Radford she served as organist/pianist and music director at St. Jude's Catholic Church for more than 50 years, taught music for many years to countless students, and played for hundreds of weddings and funerals. You would be hard-pressed to find someone in Radford who she didn't play for, no matter what the occasion. She also played in local bands for many years, including the Old Pros, and enjoyed her long-term membership in Kiwanis, in part because the meetings offered her another opportunity to play for a crowd.
Susie was a well-known and beloved local musician who never failed to entertain. She had an encyclopedic knowledge, mastery and love of all things musical, and leaves a strong legacy of musical discipline, creativity and ingenuity to countless pupils. She brought enthusiasm for music to everyone who heard her play. When gathered around the piano, Susie could play any request, in any requested key, and any requested style or tempo, and of course, she never used sheet music.
At Susie's senior recital at Nazareth College, she played a beautiful and difficult selection of piano compositions, and she concluded her recital by playing the entire CONCERTO IN A MINOR by Robert Schumann, accompanied by the entire Nazareth Orchestra. This took about 30 minutes, and she played it by memory and she never missed a note.
Susie was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was remarkably gifted and was particularly accepting of and kind to all people. She had hundreds of friends from all walks of life who originated from many countries throughout the world. She was beloved by her entire extended family, who considered her the center of fun.
Surviving are daughter-in-law, Odile Brock.; son, Matthew D. Brock and wife, Meg.; daughter, Mary Susanna (Sweetsie) Gilmore and husband, Ron; son, Clement J. (Butter) Brock and wife, Mary Ann.; and son, Bill Goodykoontz Jr. and wife, Susan.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Jude's Catholic Church at noon on Friday, September 4, 2015, with burial to follow at Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin, Va.
The Goodykoontz family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford, Va.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis Droit (Bud) Ripley and Verna Holt Ripley; husband, William Oakey Goodykoontz; son, Sam Brock; brothers, Col. George H. Ripley, USMC (Ret.), Maj. Michael J. Ripley, USMC, and Col. John W. Ripley, USMC (Ret.); sister Patricia Ann Devine; and nephew Walter S. Devine.
Susie graduated from Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic School in Roanoke in 1946, and then from Nazareth College in Nazareth, Ky., in 1950, with a Bachelor of Music degree. Immediately afterwards she taught in numerous schools in McDowell County, W.Va., as a music teacher and band director.
She lived in Radford from 1956 until her death. While in Radford she served as organist/pianist and music director at St. Jude's Catholic Church for more than 50 years, taught music for many years to countless students, and played for hundreds of weddings and funerals. You would be hard-pressed to find someone in Radford who she didn't play for, no matter what the occasion. She also played in local bands for many years, including the Old Pros, and enjoyed her long-term membership in Kiwanis, in part because the meetings offered her another opportunity to play for a crowd.
Susie was a well-known and beloved local musician who never failed to entertain. She had an encyclopedic knowledge, mastery and love of all things musical, and leaves a strong legacy of musical discipline, creativity and ingenuity to countless pupils. She brought enthusiasm for music to everyone who heard her play. When gathered around the piano, Susie could play any request, in any requested key, and any requested style or tempo, and of course, she never used sheet music.
At Susie's senior recital at Nazareth College, she played a beautiful and difficult selection of piano compositions, and she concluded her recital by playing the entire CONCERTO IN A MINOR by Robert Schumann, accompanied by the entire Nazareth Orchestra. This took about 30 minutes, and she played it by memory and she never missed a note.
Susie was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was remarkably gifted and was particularly accepting of and kind to all people. She had hundreds of friends from all walks of life who originated from many countries throughout the world. She was beloved by her entire extended family, who considered her the center of fun.
Surviving are daughter-in-law, Odile Brock.; son, Matthew D. Brock and wife, Meg.; daughter, Mary Susanna (Sweetsie) Gilmore and husband, Ron; son, Clement J. (Butter) Brock and wife, Mary Ann.; and son, Bill Goodykoontz Jr. and wife, Susan.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Jude's Catholic Church at noon on Friday, September 4, 2015, with burial to follow at Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin, Va.
The Goodykoontz family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford, Va.
Mary Susan Ripley Goodykoontz of Radford, Va., died on Sunday, August 16, 2015. She was born in Roanoke, Va., on February 7, 1929.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis Droit (Bud) Ripley and Verna Holt Ripley; husband, William Oakey Goodykoontz; son, Sam Brock; brothers, Col. George H. Ripley, USMC (Ret.), Maj. Michael J. Ripley, USMC, and Col. John W. Ripley, USMC (Ret.); sister Patricia Ann Devine; and nephew Walter S. Devine.
Susie graduated from Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic School in Roanoke in 1946, and then from Nazareth College in Nazareth, Ky., in 1950, with a Bachelor of Music degree. Immediately afterwards she taught in numerous schools in McDowell County, W.Va., as a music teacher and band director.
She lived in Radford from 1956 until her death. While in Radford she served as organist/pianist and music director at St. Jude's Catholic Church for more than 50 years, taught music for many years to countless students, and played for hundreds of weddings and funerals. You would be hard-pressed to find someone in Radford who she didn't play for, no matter what the occasion. She also played in local bands for many years, including the Old Pros, and enjoyed her long-term membership in Kiwanis, in part because the meetings offered her another opportunity to play for a crowd.
Susie was a well-known and beloved local musician who never failed to entertain. She had an encyclopedic knowledge, mastery and love of all things musical, and leaves a strong legacy of musical discipline, creativity and ingenuity to countless pupils. She brought enthusiasm for music to everyone who heard her play. When gathered around the piano, Susie could play any request, in any requested key, and any requested style or tempo, and of course, she never used sheet music.
At Susie's senior recital at Nazareth College, she played a beautiful and difficult selection of piano compositions, and she concluded her recital by playing the entire CONCERTO IN A MINOR by Robert Schumann, accompanied by the entire Nazareth Orchestra. This took about 30 minutes, and she played it by memory and she never missed a note.
Susie was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was remarkably gifted and was particularly accepting of and kind to all people. She had hundreds of friends from all walks of life who originated from many countries throughout the world. She was beloved by her entire extended family, who considered her the center of fun.
Surviving are daughter-in-law, Odile Brock.; son, Matthew D. Brock and wife, Meg.; daughter, Mary Susanna (Sweetsie) Gilmore and husband, Ron; son, Clement J. (Butter) Brock and wife, Mary Ann.; and son, Bill Goodykoontz Jr. and wife, Susan.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Jude's Catholic Church at noon on Friday, September 4, 2015, with burial to follow at Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin, Va.
The Goodykoontz family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford, Va.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis Droit (Bud) Ripley and Verna Holt Ripley; husband, William Oakey Goodykoontz; son, Sam Brock; brothers, Col. George H. Ripley, USMC (Ret.), Maj. Michael J. Ripley, USMC, and Col. John W. Ripley, USMC (Ret.); sister Patricia Ann Devine; and nephew Walter S. Devine.
Susie graduated from Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic School in Roanoke in 1946, and then from Nazareth College in Nazareth, Ky., in 1950, with a Bachelor of Music degree. Immediately afterwards she taught in numerous schools in McDowell County, W.Va., as a music teacher and band director.
She lived in Radford from 1956 until her death. While in Radford she served as organist/pianist and music director at St. Jude's Catholic Church for more than 50 years, taught music for many years to countless students, and played for hundreds of weddings and funerals. You would be hard-pressed to find someone in Radford who she didn't play for, no matter what the occasion. She also played in local bands for many years, including the Old Pros, and enjoyed her long-term membership in Kiwanis, in part because the meetings offered her another opportunity to play for a crowd.
Susie was a well-known and beloved local musician who never failed to entertain. She had an encyclopedic knowledge, mastery and love of all things musical, and leaves a strong legacy of musical discipline, creativity and ingenuity to countless pupils. She brought enthusiasm for music to everyone who heard her play. When gathered around the piano, Susie could play any request, in any requested key, and any requested style or tempo, and of course, she never used sheet music.
At Susie's senior recital at Nazareth College, she played a beautiful and difficult selection of piano compositions, and she concluded her recital by playing the entire CONCERTO IN A MINOR by Robert Schumann, accompanied by the entire Nazareth Orchestra. This took about 30 minutes, and she played it by memory and she never missed a note.
Susie was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was remarkably gifted and was particularly accepting of and kind to all people. She had hundreds of friends from all walks of life who originated from many countries throughout the world. She was beloved by her entire extended family, who considered her the center of fun.
Surviving are daughter-in-law, Odile Brock.; son, Matthew D. Brock and wife, Meg.; daughter, Mary Susanna (Sweetsie) Gilmore and husband, Ron; son, Clement J. (Butter) Brock and wife, Mary Ann.; and son, Bill Goodykoontz Jr. and wife, Susan.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Jude's Catholic Church at noon on Friday, September 4, 2015, with burial to follow at Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin, Va.
The Goodykoontz family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford, Va.
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