CABOT — SMSGT (Ret.) Wallace James “Rip” Dempsey, Jr., 78,

of Cabot passed away Tuesday, March 30th. Born in Minden, W. Va., to parents Wallace and Frances Dempsey, Rip graduated high school and went on to join the Air Force soon after. He served his country for 26 years, ultimately retiring as a Senior Master Sargent in charge of the 50th Flight Squadron. He discovered a love of flying during his service time, flying with the flight crews as a Flight engineer. His career took him to every continent and to all 50 states.

He was an active man who continued to travel the world after his retirement and also loved to hunt and fish. Rip always dedicated time to the V.F.W. in Jacksonville, where he served as Post Commander. He was a kind man who loved to take care of his family and friends, no matter what the need was.

Rip is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Doris Ann Dempsey; brother, Jack Dempsey; sister, Janice Whitlock; grandsons Brock and Cody and special friend, Margie Ruple.

He is survived by son, James Richard Dempsey, and his wife, Susan; step-daughter, Robyn Mahoney, and her husband, John; stepdaughter, Amberly Schmidt; and stepson, Nathan Stricklin; brothers, Roger Dempsey and Gerald Dempsey; sisters, Ruth Ladish, Brenda Aiello, and Linda Kyzer; grandchildren, Kendra, Matt, Jacob, Brittanie, Felicity, Nicholas, Nathan Jr.; and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at 12 p.m. on Friday, April 2nd. at the Faith Baptist Church, 301 Bill Foster Drive in Cabot with funeral service following at 1 p.m. Pastor Richard Hamlin will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow in the Rest Hills Memorial Park in NLR.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to VFW Post 4548, P. O. Box 482, Jacksonville, Ark. 72078, or to Arkansas Hospice Foundation, 14 Parkstone Circle, NLR, Ark. 72116.

Please sign Rip’s guest book at www.griffinleggettresthills.com and leave a memory of him for his family.