Nathan Replogle

Giles Nathaniel “Rip” Replogle, age 88, was born May 3, 1937, in Beech Bluff, TN and passed away on January 9th, 2026, at West Tennessee Healthcare in Jackson, TN after a brief illness.

He was preceded in death by his father, Heulan Replogle and by his mother, Frances Kyren Giles Replogle, and a sister, Imogene Replogle Walker. Rip lost his mother at the age of 2 and his father married Jewel Whitworth whom he considered his mother. Jewel also preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Betty Carroll Replogle; his three daughters, Dawn (Phil) Clements, Lissa (Bruce) Wright and Vanessa Replogle; five grandchildren, Jonathan Clements, Karine (Donald) Dunn, Stephen (Chrissie) Clements, and Lee (Jasmine Vinson) Dicus, and Katherine (Kaitlyn) Dicus; four great-grandchildren, Addison Dunn, Vivian Dunn, Anneliese Dicus and Kira Dicus.

Rip was the owner of a lumber company for 65 years and was known for his strong work ethic and dedication to his trade. He served his country as a drill instructor and sergeant in the National Guard. A man of great faith, he also served as a deacon and Sunday school director at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Milan, TN. Rip built a chapel at his sawmill and provided church services for his employees every week. Rip lived a quiet life grounded in faith, service and quiet generosity. He was a devoted animal advocate, who at one time, was feeding and caring for as many as 150 abandoned cats and dogs. He was always willing to help those in need and was known for his kind and generous heart. He donated land and lumber to churches, fed elderly shut-ins, and extended countless other acts of kindness, far too many to list.

Rip was deeply involved in the sport of truck pulling for nearly five decades and was well known for his two trucks ‘Let R Rip” and “Big Bird”. He was never too busy to answer a question from a young fan or to gift a t-shirt. He had a competitive spirit and earned point champion honors multiple times over the years and was one of the first inducted into the Mid-South Truck Pullers Association Hall of Fame in 2013. True to his nature, Rip did not seek the limelight. Per his request, there will be no services. He will be laid to rest on private family land overlooking the land he loved.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Carroll County Humane Society, 21822 TN-22, McKenzie, TN, 38201 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38231.

Rip will be remembered for his unselfish acts of kindness toward both people and animals and for the lasting impact he made on all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.

Ridgeway Funeral Home will be handling the private family arrangements.