Life story Mr. Alva B. Tripp, Jr., age 72, of Milton, Kentucky, passed away on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at his residence. Born November 11, 1937 in Washington, North Carolina, he was the son of Alva B., Sr. and Mildred Maurer Tripp. Mr. Tripp moved at an early age to New York, and spent all of his youth in Queens, New York and East Rockaway, Long Island. He studied electrical engineering, but received his degree in English and English Literature from Hofstra University in Long Island. He also studied voice privately in New York, and moved to Germany in 1964 to study at music conservatories in Munich and Cologne, Germany. He was an internationally-known opera singer, having made his singing debut at Carnegie Hall in New York in 1962. He toured Europe with the New York ProMusica Antiqua in 1961. He was employed in opera houses in Kaiserslautern, Aachen and Duesseldorf, Germany and was a guest artist in many other European opera houses. He and his wife also had a Christian music ministry in Europe, the Middle East, Canada and the United States. Mr. Tripp retired in 1995, and after moving to Milton, Kentucky, he co- founded with his wife the Madison Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. and MADPAC Kids children's choir and worked with both for many years. He brought many concerts of professional musicians to Madison; performed in Amahl and the Night Visitors opera in Madison from 1997-2004; conducted many community concerts; and portrayed the Reverend Jesse Vawter in the opening ceremonies of Madison's Bicentennial celebration last year. He worked with children in the after school and summer programs for the Salvation Army, as a substitute teacher in the Trimble County Schools, and as a vocal instructor for Indiana University Southeast and Michigan State University. He was a member of the Madison First Baptist Church, where he served as an ordained deacon and as a member of the Church Council. Survivors include his wife, the former Drusilla O. Lodge, to whom he was married in March, 1965 in Munich, Germany; two sons and daughters-in-law: Alva B. III and Magdalena Tripp of Duesseldorf, Germany, and Jeffrey and Rita Tripp of Hanover; on sister, Kathryn Feldman of New York, New York; two grandchildren: Jeremy and Lisa Tripp of Hanover; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Reverend Jon Carlstrom and Reverend Lewis Wright will conduct memorial services at 11:00 AM Saturday, March 27, 2010 at the First Baptist Church. Burial will be private in Fairmount Cemetery. Friends and family may gather at the Lytle Funeral Chapel form 5 to 7 PM Friday, March 26, 2010. The family has requested memorial contributions be made to the First Baptist Church Organ Restoration Fund or the church's music programs. Memorial envelopes are available at the funeral home and church. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Alva B. Tripp Jr., please visit our floral store.