Rankin William Tippins

Rankin William Tippins passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 9, 2014 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center at the age of 89. Rankin who was known as “Tip” or “Wink” by friends and family, was born in Blountstown, Florida on March 19, 1924, the youngest son of Job and Mary (Sylvest) Tippins’ ten children. Rankin’s childhood years were spent growing up with his siblings in Auburn, Alabama. Rankin was a veteran of WWII, serving his country in the Navy on the USS Richmond in the Aleutians and later on the USS Pickens at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After the war, Rankin attended Auburn University where he graduated with a degree in Business and Accounting-he remained a lifelong Auburn football fan. Job opportunities and Rankin’s love for adventure took him to Alaska where he met and married his wife of 63 years, Doris “Nickie” Tippins in Palmer, Alaska. Rankin and Doris also lived in Seattle for a number of years where he worked for Boeing Airlines. With the birth of their two daughters, Rankin and Doris eventually settled in St. Joseph, where he founded, owned and operated Lakeshore Marble until his retirement. Rankin was an avid rock hound, ham radio enthusiast and gardener, and enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing and traveling. His travels, together with his family, took him to National and Provincial parks in the US and Canada, and in his later years on a 230 mile raft trip down the Colorado River at the Grand Canyon and a safari to Kenya. Most importantly, Rankin was a devoted husband and father to his wife and two daughters. Rankin is survived by his daughters-Deborah Tippins of Athens, GA, Rebecca Tippins of Columbus, OH; and three sisters-Pat Hudson, Minnie Fries and Lil Little. He was preceded in death by his parents Job and Mary, his wife Doris on December 20, 2013, sisters-Mary “Tom” Williams, Francis “Frank” Tippins, Jo Vice, and brothers Glen “Bud”, Phil and Ham Tippins. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held 3:00 P.M. Monday, January 13 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Mary Shawl-Ranke officiating. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Rankin’s memory to Sarett Nature Center, 2300 N. Benton Center Rd., Benton Harbor, MI 49022 or Lest We Forget, 942 Sierra Dr., Benton Harbor, MI 49022. Those wishing to sign Rankin’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com