Dr. Bruce Ray Tripp, Jr.

Published 7:45 pm Friday, March 8, 2019

Dr. Bruce Ray Tripp, Jr., of Greenville, passed away on March 6, 2019, in his home, surrounded by his family.

A memorial service to celebrate Bruce’s life will be held Monday, at 2 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. Private burial will be in Pinewood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Wilkerson Funeral Home.

Dr. Tripp was born to Bruce and Dorothy Tripp on May 14, 1957, in Greenville. He graduated from North Pitt High School and continued on to graduate with a B.S. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a D.D.S. degree from the UNC-CH School of Dentistry. While in dental school, Bruce married the love of his life, Sandra Nobblitt, and following his graduation from dental school, he returned to his roots and built his dental practice and home on his family’s land on Highway 264 in Pactolus. Since 1983, he remained a pillar of the community and worked hard every day to provide high-quality dental services to families throughout Greenville and the surrounding areas. His office staff became an extended part of his family, and he cherished their love and the time he spent with them every day.

Although he was a self-proclaimed workaholic, Bruce had many interests beyond his love of dentistry. He enjoyed bass fishing with his son, as well as deep-sea fishing with his friends and family, and he participated in several annual angler tournaments. In addition, he had a passion for cars and boats and enjoyed outboard drag boat racing, where he excelled and won many national championships. He enjoyed going to auctions from an early age and eventually went to school to learn how to be an auctioneer. Above all, he enjoyed spending time traveling with his friends. Bruce had tremendous love for his family, including his work, racing and gambling buddies.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Bruce and Dorothy Tripp, and his father-in-law, Wayne Nobblitt.

Bruce is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Sandy Nobblitt Tripp; son, Jeffrey Buck Tripp and wife Melissa, and grandson, Emmett Ray Tripp, of Blounts Creek; daughter, Elizabeth Tripp DeWitt and husband Sam, of Manns Harbor; brother, Charles Lucas Tripp and wife Debbie, of Sims; sister, Tricia Tripp Eimers, of Holly Springs; mother-in-law, Regina Nobblitt, of Fries, Virginia; brother-in-law, Terry Nobblitt and wife Robyn, of Hillsborough; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 401 E. Fourth St., Greenville, NC 27858 or Pactolus Fire Department.

Arrangements are by Wilkerson Funeral Home & Crematory, Greenville. Online condolences at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com.