Striplin speaks on move to Thermopolis

Varnie Striplin moved to Thermopolis in 2000, though he was originally born and raised in Albany, Ga. He graduated in 1956 from Moultrie High School.

As to what brought him here, Striplin said it was "to find a nursing home that would take my mom and dad, and put them in the same room," that home being Canyon Hills Manor.

His brother-in law, who was born and Lusk and lived in Casper, and his dad worked at the old Sideboard. They encouraged Striplin to come up and see the facility, and on that visit Pat Jennings told him if he could have his folks up within three days there would be a room held for them.

Following a garage sale and a sale of the house in Georgia, Striplin loaded them up and brought them to Thermopolis, making it just shy of the three-day deadline.

Striplin chose to stay in Thermopolis, as he fell in love with the town and the people, and worked at the local flower shop when it was over on Shoshoni.

One of the reasons he chose to stay is health problems have made him unable to breathe humid air like that found in southern Georgia.

Striplin is also retired military, having served four years, nine months in the Air Force and 19 years, three months in the Army. He further added he was in the Air Force during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and in the Army during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

"I never went overseas, in the whole time I was in," Striplin said, as he was more critical to being stateside. In the Air Force he worked with long-range, heavy ground search radar, and in the Army he was the liaison to the Oklahoma National Guard as a quartermaster, stationed at Fort Sill.

A member of Risen Son Southern Baptist Church, he added, "I love my church here. We've really got a great church family here."

Often seen at the Hot Springs County Senior Center, Striplin said the facility has "a multitude of very fine people, staff and patrons. Everyone is very, very friendly, and the staff, especially Trenda, are so helpful. I love the people of Thermopolis."