Thomas Jeffrey Tippett

Thomas Jeffrey Tippett, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on January 19th, 2025, in Centerville, Ohio, at the age of 78. Tom was born on September 10, 1946, in Columbus, Ohio, the son of the late Robert and Helen Tippett of Worthington, Ohio. He was a dutiful father and husband and a wonderful, protective brother. 

As a young boy, Tom had an active imagination; he would spend hours in his room drawing and inventing games. His surviving sisters, Connie and Betsy Tippett, recall Halloween pastimes raiding basement boxes of Robert’s old clothes and shoes for hobo costumes. The most annoying thing about Tom was that he would stash his candy at the bottom of his closet. When everyone else had eaten theirs within weeks, Tom kept pulling out more and more, and eventually, this led to a confrontation when Betsy discovered his horde. Not surprisingly, his boyhood love of dress-up, secret candy stashes, drawing, and games is carried on in his surviving grandson, Dash Lundbeck. Tom was an excellent grandfather; he attended almost all of Dash’s swim meets and knew all of Dash’s best times. Once, before Dash came over to visit, Tom set up a toy army base complete with helicopters hanging from the ceiling fan. 

Tom was a student-athlete at Worthington High School in Columbus, Ohio. Graduating in 1964, Tom participated in wrestling, track, cross country, tennis, and student council. Tom enjoyed keeping up with old classmates and most recently attended the Cardinals' 60th class reunion. 

Tom went on to study at Ohio State University and the Northland College of Ashland, Wisconsin, earning a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. After serving in the Army Reserves in Vietnam and earning a Bronze Star, Tom continued to serve for forty years as a civilian Contract Officer at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Tom was married to his late wife, Sherry, for 50 years, and they celebrated their golden anniversary shortly before her passing in 2023. 

In his spare time, Tom enjoyed participating in various hobbies. He was an avid bird watcher, often hanging up various bird feeders, mowing and toiling over yard projects, and studying and cheering on the Buckeyes, Reds, and Bengals. Tom stayed active, walking daily, meeting with his tennis and luncheon groups, and attending sporting events with friends and family. 

Tom will be deeply missed by his surviving loved ones, including daughters Shelley Tippett, Jackie Tippett (Tom Adducchio), and Katie Lundbeck (Max Lundbeck), as well as his grandson Dash Lundbeck, sisters Betsy and Connie Tippett, nieces Anna and Amy Robison, Radha Pappas (John Pappas), and nephew Sam Nieburgs. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sherry Tippett, and his parents, Robert and Helen Tippett. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Shelley Tippett Care Fund on GoFundMe, which supports Tom and Sherry’s beloved quadriplegic daughter.

A funeral service honoring Tom’s life will be held at Newcomer Centerville, 820 Miamisburg Centerville Rd, Dayton, OH 45459, on Sunday, January 26th, from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Military honors will begin at 2:00 pm, followed by Pastor Austin McMahan’s service and visitation.