Thomas Nipp, Jr.

Thomas Nelson Nipp Jr., 84, of Rio Rancho, NM, passed away on June 8th surrounded by loving family.

Born on October 3, 1940, in Dallas, TX to Thomas Nelson Nipp Sr. and Hazel Mae Sunderlin. Tom grew up in Midland, where he graduated from high school, and he attended the University of Texas at Austin.

A proud veteran, Tom served in the United States Navy in the Vietnam War. Tom was a successful businessman in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. Tom’s career included sales of farming equipment, automobiles, and real estate. In his free time, Tom enjoyed being a pilot, golfing, being a car guy, playing canasta, sipping coffee on the back porch while telling stories, and looking at the Sandia Mountains.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Hazel; his former wife, Sandy; his sister, Meredith Adkinson; and his sister-in-law, Bea Nipp. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 36 years, Cheri, two sons—Toby (Gloria) and Gary (Mary)—two stepchildren, Michelle (Jon) and Michael (Dina)—his brother Richard, and seven grandchildren: Erica Michelle, Ryan Thomas, Gary, Melissa, Samuel, Maxwell, and Sawyer.

A private family service honoring Tom’s life will be held at a later date. To celebrate Tom, the family requests that you commit to doing an act of charity/kindness in the next year, and Tom would want to remind us, “Don’t Quit!”