Richard Tipton

Richard Tipton died on March 4, 2013 at his home in Cocoa Beach, FL. He was 91 years old. Rick was born on Dec 1, 1921 in Texarkana, Texas. He was the youngest of 6 children. His family moved from Texarkana to Kansas City in 1934. Rick proudly served 4 years in the United States Navyduring WWII .He spent 18 months aboard the USS Bunker Hill aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. Rick met and married his wife, Gloria, also serving in the Navy, when they were stationed in Miami. Rick and Gloria returned to Kansas City after being discharged from the Navy at the end of the war. Rick completed his college education at the Kansas City Art Institute as a graphic artist. Upon graduation, he went to work for The Kansas City Gas Service Co. He retired from that company, after 37 years, as the Director of Advertising in 1984. Rick was a member of the board of the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission. He was also a member of the Kansas City Advertising and Sales ExecutivesClub and the Midwest Gas Association.Rick and Gloria retired to Cocoa Beach in 1986 where they were active in volunteer work for Health First, Meals OnWheels and served as Ministers to the sick for the Church of Our Saviour. Rick’s wife of 66 years, Gloria, preceded him in death in 2011. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Carolyn Tipton, and his daughters and sons-in-law, Terri and John Soptic, Nancy and Pat Giles and his daughter Kathy Tipton. Rick and Gloria have 15 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister, Ruth Sisson, in Olathe, KS. A Memorial Mass and celebration of the lives of Rick and Gloria Tipton will be held this summer at the Church of Our Saviour’s Catholic Community, in Cocoa Beach.