Leon Tippin

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Leon Tippin, 85, of Bainbridge, passed away at Danville Regional Rehabilitation on Monday, July 2, 2018.

Leon was born Dec. 6, 1932 in Washington County, Ind., the second of nine children, to James and Nellie Tippin. The family moved to a Putnam County farm in September 1948.

He graduated Bainbridge High School in 1951 and married Marjorie Gowin (deceased). He married the love of his life, Donna Patrick, on Nov. 23, 1984.

Survivors include his wife of more than 33 years, Donna Tippin; six children, Terry Tippin (wife Cindy), Larry Tippin, Brenda Kyle (husband Mark), Lanna Grenard, (husband Doug), Jane Nice (husband David) and Rod Lasley; siblings Eleanor Minto, Howard Tippin, Margaret Kessinger, Mildred Rusk, Marilyn Phillips, Morris Tippin and Joanne Walker; 19 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Jeanette Brown.

Leon served two years in the U.S. Army on a survey team in Germany.

He farmed and milked cows from 1955-1994. Leon served on Miami Valley Milk Marketing board of directors for nine years, serving as vice president three years. While there, he helped with the merger of five co-ops, consisting of 10,000 dairy farm members, into Milk Marketing Inc., the third-largest milk marketing co-op in the nation.

He served on the Farm Bureau state and national dairy boards several years, as well as on the Putnam County Fair Board several years and as president for two years.

He was an active member of the Roachdale Christian Church and served on the New Maysville Cemetery Board as president more than 20 years.

He sold his farm in 1994 and became an Amish taxi driver. Leon served the Amish community for 11 years while driving more than 900,000 miles, working with them the rest of his life, and really learned to live and love their simple life.

Memorial contributions can be made to Putnam County Fairgrounds Endowment, 2 S. Jackson St., Greencastle, IN 46135 or Roachdale Christian Church, 1 N. Walnut St., Roachdale, IN 46172.

Services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, July 6 at Roachdale Christian Church with Ray Neier officiating. Burial will follow in New Maysville Cemetery.

Visitation will be Thursday, July 5 from 3-8: p.m. at Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home, Greencastle.

Memories may be shared with the family at www.Hopkins-Rector.com.