John Henry Earl Riopelle

  General Notes:

According to Earl's WWII draft registration he and Edith had a residence at 245 W. Marshall Ave. in Ferndale, Michigan. His mailing address was 7 Kensington Rd., Garden City, New York. At the time he worked at Ranger Aircraft Engines in Farmingdale, New York. He was 47 at the time of the registration. This registration was a manpower/skill inventory for the war effort.

Though his name was James Henry Earl Riopelle, I went by the name Henry Earl Riopelle. This is the name used on his marriage license with Edith Stewart.

An article in a 1982 edition of the Detroit Free Press wrote about 32 couples who had been married for 50 years or more having a celebration. All couples lived at the Willow Creek apartments and townhouses in Westland. The article said "Take it from Henry Riopelle, the secret for a long and successful marriage is to do your boxing with 16-ounce gloves. That way we never hurt each other. At 63 years Edith and Henry had been married longer than anyone else.

One currently unproven story is that Henry was part Blackfoot indian.

John married Edith Marie Stewart, daughter of John Stewart and Martha, on 5 Aug 1919 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. (Edith Marie Stewart was born on 4 Dec 1894 in Wooster, Ohio and died on 6 Jul 1984 in Marquette, Michigan.)

  Marriage Notes:

Henry and Edith lived in Detroit and traveled to Chicago to get married. My best read of the marriage certificate says they were married by Rev. W. S. Flemming which indicates the ceremony was in a church.