Beatrice F. Trippe

Beatrice F. Trippe, 80, of San Antonio, TX, died on Friday, February 5, 2021. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York and after graduating high school, attended the College of Nortre Dame of Maryland. While attending college, she met Richard Trippe, a young US Naval Academy Midshipman. She and Dick married in 1962 and shared the next 57 years together, raising their three daughters, Francesca, Marjorie, and Charlotte. Like many women of her day, Bea began her family life as a stay-at-home mother while Dick served in the US Navy and Merchant Marines. It would not be long before Bea heard the call of the sea herself. In 1976, she enlisted in the US Navy Reserve as a Yeoman where she excelled in the area of administration. Wanting to achieve more, YN2 Trippe cross-trained to become a Navy Intelligence Specialist, specializing in Imagery and Operational analysis; IS1 Trippe would later earn the highly sought after, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist qualification. Through hard work, perseverance, and her outstanding leadership skills, she rose to the highest enlisted rank of Master Chief Petty Officer. As a Senior Enlisted Non-Commissioned Officer, MCPO Trippe focused on advancing the career of sailors under her charge; many going on to become Commissioned Officers in the US Navy Reserve. In 1992, two years before the Navy assigned active-duty female sailors to combat ships, MCPO Trippe led 30 USNR female sailors on temporary duty aboard the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67). Using her Navy experience, Bea became a civilian Intelligence Specialist for the Department of the Air Force in 1998. During her time at the Air Force Information Operations Center and later, the 35 Intelligence Squadron, she directly contributed to the safety and security of the United States. She is survived by her husband CAPTAIN Richard M. Trippe, USN Ret., her daughters Marjorie Coppinger and Charlotte Trippe, and grandchildren Thomas Coppinger, Meghan Coppinger, and Helena Trippe.

We will be hosting a Celebration of Life Party at the home at 5:30. Family and friends are welcome to visit. Events will be streamed for family and friends.