Irvine Ruff Riphahn

Irvine Ruff Riphahn, 85, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, February 26, 2018 in Pampa.

Services will be 2:00 PM Friday, March 2, 2018 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Ruby Moultrie, pastor, John Curry, and Rev. Dr. Dewey Wheat of The Presbyterian Church of Gatesville, officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.

Irvine was born April 30, 1932 to Aubrey and Vivian Ruff on a farm southwest of Mobeetie, near the Sweetwater Creek. The family moved to Pampa when Irvine was five and returned to Mobeetie seven years later. Her father and uncle owned the IGA Grocery Store, food locker and slaughter house. She graduated from Mobeetie High School in 1949, where she was very active and involved in many programs, including cheerleading, class leadership, and theatre. She attended West Texas State University.

Ms. Riphahn’s early career included working at First National Bank of Pampa and the Oil and Gas Division of the Cabot Corporation and seventeen years as a commercial underwriter for the Fatheree Insurance Agency. She was best known in Pampa as a realtor. Her real estate career spanned over 40 years. Initially, Ms. Riphahn started in the real estate industry working with Norma Ward, her best friend and sister by choice. Eventually Irvine owned and operated First Landmark Realty. Irvine served several times as President, Vice-President, MLS Chairman and a director of the Pampa Board of Realtors. She managed the Coronado Center, Pampa Mall and the Borger Plaza Shopping Centers. Her biggest professional pleasure was putting people and places together. She earned her GRI designation. Irvine especially enjoyed working with young people.

She adored her family and was very active with them during their younger years, serving as a Brownie leader, Cub Scout leader, and a sponsor of her daughter’s social club, The Hep Cat Club. She also sponsored a band that her son was in called, The Catalinas. They traveled and performed, earning many trophies.

She was president of the Pampa High School Band Boosters Club in 1968 and the band was invited to play in Los Angeles for the NFL Playoff game. While there they were invited to play in New York for the AFL Championship game between the Oakland Raiders and the New York Jets. Due to her working relationship with Trans America, she was able to negotiate and arrange a complimentary 727 passenger jet for the band and choir to attend.

Irvine married George B. Dunn in 1979, and he preceded her in death in 1981. Later she married Martin Riphahn in 1986. He passed away on September 17, 2002.

Ms. Riphahn was a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, where she was Vice-President, President, and elected Sweetheart many times. She considered the Pampa chapter as her extended family. She was also a member of the Pampa Pond Club. She enjoyed needlepoint, completing crossword puzzles and playing cards.

Irvine was a member at First United Methodist Church and loved her church family. She and Pastor Ruby called each other “baby girl” and “momma”. The worship service and the Winsome Sunday school class brought her immense joy. Her elegance was always appreciated by family and friends. One of her greatest qualities in life was her forgiving attitude. She was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. She loved and adored her family, especially her grandchildren.

She was so grateful to her many friends who looked in on her and took care of her over the years. The family would like to give a special thanks to her caregivers, Barbara, Linda, April, Patsy, Gail, Ann and the staff at Pampa Nursing Center.  

She was preceded in death by her parents and grandson, Joseph Brison Rape.

Survivors include her son, Pat Mitchell of Austin; her daughter Pamela Rape and husband Tommie of Houston; 2 grandchildren, Logan Darden Raye of Houston and Stephanie Mallick and her husband Chris of Germantown, MD; and one great granddaughter, Isabella Rose Mallick.

The family suggest memorials to be made to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 1981, Pampa, TX 79066 or your favorite charity.

The family will receive friends from 5:30-7:00 PM Thursday, March 1, 2018, at Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.