Ivan M. Tribe
Ivan M. Tribe, age 82, of McArthur, Ohio, passed away Tuesday evening, April 4, 2023, at Holzer Hospital Hospice, Gallipolis, in the presence of his wife Deanna and her nephew Roy Robinson. Mr. Tribe had been in declining health since a fall at home in mid December that resulted in a brain injury with complications.
Born May 1, 1940 and reared in Albany, Ohio, Ivan was the son of Henry and Dorothy Reeves Tribe. He and Deanna Tripp of Vinton County were married December 23, 1966. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Gary Tribe.
Ivan is survived by wife Deanna, brother Henry of Albany, nephews Greg (Nikki) and Gary Lee (Jill) of Albany; sister-in-law Shirley Tribe of Albany; several grand nephews and nieces, and cousins.
Ivan was graduated from Albany High School, class of 1958. He earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Ohio University and taught history in high schools in Vinton and Meigs Counties for six years. He returned to graduate school and earned the PhD in American History from the University of Toledo. Ivan joined the faculty of the University of Rio Grande in 1976 and retired with emeritus rank in 2007 and continued to teach an occasional course.
His research, writings, and presentations have concerned the history of communities and coal mining in southeastern Ohio, and also with the history of traditional country and bluegrass music. He has authored 14 books, two co-written with former college students and four with co-worker Jacob Bapst. His work also includes numerous journal articles along with encyclopedia and reference work entries (in print and online), liner notes for recordings, and scholarly papers.
Ivan and wife Deanna co-hosted and co-produced the weekly educational country music program Hornpipe and Fugue on Ohio University Public Media for forty years as volunteers beginning in 1983 and concluding at the end of 2022. They also were frequent monthly hosts on the bluegrass program, D28+5.
Ivan served 2 terms as mayor of Albany (1962-65), being recognized as the youngest mayor in the state at the time (prior to the voting age being lowered to 18). He served for briefer periods as a member of the Alexander Local Board of Education, of the Albany Village Council, and of the Albany Board of Public Affairs.
Mr. Tribe has been active in Masonic and fraternal organizations including Albany Lodge No. 723 F&AM; Athens Chapter, Council and Commandery; Albany and Sereno Orders of the Eastern Star; Aladdin Shrine Temple; Valley Lodge K of P; AASR Cambridge (33rd degree); Albany Grange, and several others.
Funeral services will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, April 8 at the Bigony-Jordan Funeral Home, Albany, with Jordan Pickens officiating. Burial will be in Alexander Cemetery. Calling hours will be observed Friday, April 7, 6 – 8 PM followed by Masonic services at 8 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Albany Lodge #723 F&AM, c/o Jeff Slattery, Secy, 45 Carol Lane, Athens, OH 45701 or to the Ivan M. Tribe Scholarship, University of Rio Grande, c/o Annette Ward, P. O. Box 500, Rio Grande, OH 45674.
