Alice Robb Ribbeck

Alice died peacefully on Monday, November 14, 2011, at her home in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Alice was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Philip E. Ribbeck.

She was born April 28, 1917, in St. Francisville, Louisiana to John Edward Mabel Robb where she was reared in the "Robb House" a historical landmark which is now on the Audubon Pilgrimage Tour. She was a member of the Grace Episcopal Church where her parents and two siblings are laid to rest. After graduating from high school at

age 16, she attended business college taking a job as bookkeeper for the Baton Rouge Water Company until meeting her late husband after his return from WWII. Alice married Phil "Cowboy" Ribbeck in 1946 and they moved to Lake Charles that same year. She busied herself rearing her family and assisting her husband in their construction business as well as managing the family owned Rebex Theater on 6th Avenue until its destruction by fire in 1961, while Phil was then serving in the Korean War.

Alice was always the chief cook and a gracious hostess to all who came into her home. Alice was active and enjoyed her social time with the "Brown Bag Program" at Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd for many years. She loved to travel and spent summers vacationing with her family throughout North America and Mexico. After Phil's death, she traveled with her children from time to time and took up a part time hobby pulling one arm bandits.

Alice is survived by her four children, Diann Ribbeck Rue and her husband Ken of Lake Charles, Nancy Ribbeck Bearden and her husband Ray of Austin, Texas, Edward "Buzzy" Ribbeck and his wife Kerry of Lake Charles and Barry Ribbeck and his wife Miki of Houston, Texas. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. Her spontaneous wit and humorous comments up until her very last day will be missed by all.

A private service for immediate family will be held on Friday, November 18, 2011.

Friends are welcomed to join a gathering of family and friends at the home of Edward Kerry Ribbeck, 4945 Bay View Lane, Lake Charles after the private service to share memories over food and drink.The gathering will start at 12:00 noon and continue through dusk.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School Foundation, 803 North Division Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601, which Alice supported for many decades.