David Ward Tipton

David Ward Tipton, 84, 247 Poplar Ridge Road, Piney Flats died Thursday, December 4, 2008 at his residence. Mr. Tipton was born July 2, 1924 in Piney Flats and was a son of the late Frank W. and Euna Weaver Tipton. He attended Poplar Ridge and Mary Hughes Schools. In June 1940 at the age of 15, he entered the United States Navy serving during WW II, receiving campaign medals for participation in the Atlantic Campaign, Pacific Campaign and the occupation of Japan. From October 1940 until May 1943 he served aboard the heavy cruiser USS Chester that was bombed and torpedoed while participating in the battle of Coral Sea and many other actions in the Pacific. He later served on the net cargo tender the USS Tuscana during the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinowa. He retired from the Navy after twenty years of service in 1960 with the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He worked as a supervisor at Pharmaseal Laboratories in Johnson City until retiring in 1986. Mr. Tipton married Berneice Dempsey on July 27,1945 until her death on February 28, 1998. They raised two children, a daughter Judith Lynn Martin and her husband Bob of Collierville, TN and a son, David William Tipton and his wife Ann M. of Piney Flats. He has four granddaughters, Amy Raines of Jackson, Tn., Alison Bryan of Arlington, Tn., Kimberly Laisure of Piney Flats and Ashley Tipton of Piney Flats and three great grandchildren Chloe Bryan of Arlington, Tn., Braden Bryan of Arlington, Tn. and Corbin Laisure of Piney Flats; one sister, Billie Malone of Bristol, Virginia. He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 9629 in Bluff City, where he has served as Post Commander since 1970.He also served as State Commander of the Tennessee VFW in 1986-1987. He has served for many years as the VFWs representative to the Board of Directors of the Mountain Home Veterans Hospital in Johnson City. He was a Life member of the Fleet Reserve Association and a member of the American Legion. Mr. Tipton was a 32 degree Mason and a member of M.M. Martin Lodge 547 in Piney Flats, a member of both York and Scottish Rites and a Shriner. He served for over 18 years as a member of the Tennessee Veterans Home Board having first been appointed by Governor McWherter in 1988, and reappointed by Governors Sunquist and Bredesen. Mr. Tipton served for many years as a member of the Sullivan County Board of Zoning Appeals. He was a lifelong Republican having served many years as a member and chairman on the 9th precinct in Piney Flats, and many years as a member of the Sullivan County Executive Committee, where he served as Vice President of the Third Legislative District. He is a dedicated Republican having spent countless hours helping elect Republicans to local, State and National offices. Mr. Tipton was a member of Poplar Ridge Christian Church in Piney Flats, which was founded in 1842 by his ancestors in the Smith and Weaver families. He was a life member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Lt. Robert D. Powell Camp of Blountville, his great-grandfather, Granville Smith having served in the 59th Tennessee Mounted Infantry from Sullivan County. He was a man who was admired and respected by all who knew him. His years of tireless efforts on behalf of veterans has earned him friends all over the State of Tennessee. His conservative ideals of service to his family, his party, and his country are the ones which have made the Republican party and our Nation great. A funeral service for David Tipton will be conducted at 8 PM Saturday, December 6, 2008 in the Morris-Baker South Chapel. Mr. Roland Whittemore and Mr. Brad Perry will officiate. A service of entombment will be conducted in the Chapel Mausoleum of Monte Vista Memorial Park at 2:30 PM Sunday. Honorary pallbearers will be: Members of M. M. Martin Lodge 547 of Piney Flats and members of the VFW Post # 9629 of Bluff City. Full Military Honors will be accorded by the VFW Post # 3382 of Kingsport along with the Tennessee National Guard at the cemetery. Everyone will meet at Morris-Baker at 2 PM Sunday to go to the cemetery. The family will receive friends at Morris-Baker from 6 to 8 PM Saturday prior to the service. In lieu of flowers the family request that memorial contributions be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 950 Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605 or to the East Tennessee Christian Home, P.O. Box 1147, Elizabethton, TN 37644