Donald David Kriplen

Donald David (Dave) Kriplen, died peacefully June 22 in Indianapolis. He was 93.
A devoted husband, father and grandfather, he was an engineer, retired General Motors executive, European sports car racer, canoer, Great Lakes diver and Boy Scout troop leader extraordinaire.
In 1956, Kriplen and sports car friend Chuck Rickert won entry into the prestigious European Alpine Ralley, by winning New England’s Great American Mountain Rally. They bought a Porsche 356 Carrera and took off with 78 other cars from Marseille through events in France, Switzerland, Italy and Yugoslavia. Only 33 cars finished the treacherous route. Americans Kriplen and Rickert were an impressive second in class and third overall.
The son of Ralph and Alma Kriplen, Kriplen was born in Dayton, OH, in 1927. He graduated from Purdue with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, following service in the U.S Army of Occupation in the Philippines. In 1959 he married the former Nancy Lowe of Indianapolis.
As its energetic leader, Kriplen led Indianapolis Boy Scout Troop 146 on monthly excursions, including canoeing in the US-Canadian Boundary Waters, camping at Philmont (NM) Scout Ranch, spelunking in southern Indiana caves and diving for lobsters in the Florida Keys.
Kriplen was past president of the Contemporary Club, the Indianapolis Literary Club and Players and was a member of the Indiana branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club.
He is survived by his wife; children Marsh Kriplen (wife Alyssa) of Miami, FL, Kate Duffy of Martinsville, IN, and Madelyn Nasser (husband Ricardo) of Bend, OR; and five grandchildren: Saffron Weddington, Lilly Duffy, Eleanor Kriplen, Cam Nasser and Lucy Nasser. A sister, Dorothy Pinella, preceded him in death.
Services will be held Monday, June 28, at 10 a.m. in the chapel of Second Presbyterian Church. Friends are invited to greet the family following the service in the church parlor.
Memorial gifts may be made to Second Presbyterian Church where Kriplen served as a Deacon and Elder, or Boy Scouts of America.