Joseph "Joe" Larry Tipton was a devoted husband, loving father, adoring grandfather, and playful great-grandfather. He was born October 14, 1939 to Edna Earl Tackett and Joseph Oldham Tipton and passed away on August 16, 2024 surrounded by family. Joe lived a full life, traveling the world for work and returning to the sanctuary of home and family. He met the love of his life at the young age of 15 and would have celebrated 63 years of marriage with his wife, Deanna Tipton, this month. Joe and Dee have four daughters and two sons in law: Lynette and Solon Bartley, Natalie Tipton, Katrina Tipton, and Rebecca and Bret Hubbard. Joe will rejoice to see his father, mother, baby brother Donald, and baby girl Katrina in heaven. Joe was deeply loved by his seven granddaughters: Ethanie Bartley, Shelby (husband Joe) Prather, Braigen (husband Nathan) Britt, Mikayla Hubbard, Katrina Hubbard, Emillia Hubbard, and Annalea Hubbard and his four great-grandchildren: Maddix Bond, Eriana Bartley, Ronan Bartley, and Brennan Prather.

Joe was a lifelong learner. Graduating from Southern High School in Louisville, Kentucky, Joe went on to study Industrial Engineering at the University of Kentucky (1961) and Banking and Finance at the University of Louisville (1964). During high school and early college, he was a Clerk and Assistant Manager for Winn-Dixie. While at U of K, he was a draftsman for the athletic department when the great Coach Rupp was coaching the U of K men's basketball team. Although Joe graduated from U of L, his heart stayed true blue in support of his Kentucky Wildcats his whole life.

His education and early work experience equipped him to be an exceptional project manager in a variety of industries. Joe took great pride in his work and across his lifetime held the roles of Production Management for International Harvester, Engineer and Maintenance Support at Fischers Packing, Engineer at Marsh Instrument, Division Director of Rockwell Manufacturing Engineering, Director of Manufacturing Engineering and International Projects Manager for Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Scotland, Wales, England, and Malta at Tube Turns, VP and COO at Flo-Bend, President and Co-Owner of Associated Engineered Products, Manager of Manufacturing Engineering Advanced Programs at LTV Aerospace and Defense Company, VP and CEO at Western Forge and Flange, VP and General Manager at Pulse Products, Division Manager Manufacturing Engineering at Trinity Industries, and Director Manufacturing Engineering at Thorco. At the age of 72, he returned to the classroom to study Archaeology American History at the University of Tulsa and served in a local museum to advance knowledge and understanding of the native people of America. He became an ally and advocate for the Tribal Nations of Oklahoma, seeking to educate others and relying on the Native American story to strengthen him.

Joe left an indelible and eternal impression on his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They follow in his path by bringing daily joy to others, being brave in entrepreneurship, engaging careers with dedication and intent, embracing the world as a wondrous place to be discovered, learning about cultures and ways different than their own, exploring the arts and humanities, being lifelong learners of all topics and interests, loving their dogs as family, and loving family beyond all measures. Joe leaves a legacy of love, devotion, and purpose that will continue far beyond his earthly time with us.

For those who desire to honor Joe's life, the family suggests donations in his honor to St. Jude Children's Hospital. www.stjude.org/give < http://www.stjude.org/give >

A funeral service will be held 1:00 pm Tuesday, August 20 at Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel