Zola Nell (Hull) Riffe
Zola Nell (Hull) Riffe, born on March 19, 1926 in Madison County, Indiana, died peacefully on the morning of August 15, 2019, at the age of 93, in Sun City Center, Florida. She was the daughter of Mary Lourany Thomas (1896-1991), and Franklin Ray Hull (1893-1983) and was the youngest of three children. Her brother Carleton and sister Ellen predeceased her. Zola married the love of her life, Charles Ward Riffe, on September 5, 1948, in the Kemp United Methodist Church in Tipton, Indiana. Ward died in 2014, in the 67th year of their marriage.
Zola is survived by daughter, Janet Riffe Paustian (husband Dick), grandsons Ryan Ward Paustian and Sean Coulter Paustian, residing in Montana, and her son, Daniel Lawson Riffe (husband Rick Thompson) residing in Hollywood, California. One grandson, Robert Brett Paustian is deceased. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.
Zola graduated from Tipton High School in 1944 and Indiana University School of Business in 1948. She was a longtime member of Kemp United Methodist Church of Tipton and a member of the Beta Omicron Chapter of Tri Kappa Sorority.
Zola learned to knit during WWII and had continued knitting all of her life. She also took up basket weaving, Brazilian embroidery, and became a tailoring seamstress.
When her children started school, she joined her husband at F. Ray Hull & Son, Inc. the farm equipment dealership started by her father. They were joined in business in 1973 by son, Dan. Retiring from the business in 1981 they took up golf. Zola soon made a hole-in-one, giving her bragging rights. The couple moved to Sun City Center, Florida in 1992, and Zola began her next career in genealogy.
In pursuit of the details of family trees, Ward and Zola drove thousands of miles on many trips,
searching the files of old court houses, cemeteries and libraries as well as visiting rediscovered relatives. Zola even learned that not only was Ward descended from Daniel Boone, but she was too, making them cousins, many times removed. Zola researched and completed six genealogy books, all being full of dates, history, pictures and memories.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later time for family and friends to gather and remember Zola. The family suggests that donations be made in Zola’s memory, to one of the following:
Tipton County Historical Society, 323 W. South Street Tipton, IN 46072
Kemp United Methodist Church, 228 N. Main, Tipton, IN 46072
Tipton Community Foundation, 1020 W. Jefferson Street, PO Box 412, Tipton, IN 46072.
Janet, I am very sorry for your loss. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
Janet I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. Both your parents meant a lot to my parents and my family. You were blessed to have her so long. You and you’re family are in our thoughts and prayers. If you ever feel like it please call me. Lisa Saunders 727-793-7524 Largo FL.
Dear Family,
Just loved Zola’s video…so well done . You have to be so proud of your parents and the great life they had together.
Bob and I so enjoyed their visits to Ft Myers during our winters there. Bob and Ward had a special interest they shared
in flying and being friends in their youth. Thanks for sharing.
Dan & Janet, thank you for the beautiful life story that you put together with these precious photos. We loved your family so much — from the days of all the good Tri Kappa events — many put together by Chick Ertel and Zola. to getting farm equipment from Hull’s implement on the Square. Mark & the whole county respected Ward so much, for his leadership in School Board to his work at the Church. Such happy memories your video has brought back Hoping for good health and happy years to come for both of you & the families. Mark & Judy McKinney
Dear Dan and Janet,
Thank you for the trip down memory lane celebrating the life of Zola Nell Hull Riffe. I have viewed it a couple of times and warm memories have come back to mind each time. A life well lived indeed. Thanks for sharing this with us. Blessings, Cousin Carla and DX
JAMES M HITTLE January 04, 2021
After retirement, there were 4 couples, Riffe, Bozell, Ertel, Hittle, that would get together at one of the couple’s house for a great renewal of earlier times. The score was IU 5,
Purdue 3,but all was fun and fellowship. There was a restaurant in Covington, IN, where we would meet for a wonderful dinner. It is sad fir me to say that I am the only
survivor. The video was a wonderful reminder of our golden age.