Obituary of Richard Von Tippet

9:00 am to 12 noon Friday, December 23, 2005 Masonic Center 521 North St SE Tumwater, Washington 98501 Richard "Rick" Von Tippet, Jr., 52, of Rochester died of natural causes at his home Monday, December 19, 2005. Rick was born April 27th, 1953, in Burlington, Washington to Richard and Adonna Tippet. He grew up in Aberdeen, graduating from Aberdeen High School in 1971. He was employed as a bus driver for the North Thurston School District. Rick loved playing the drums with the Aberdeen band, "The Rockles (Amber-Rain)" and in recent years, as a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association and was involved in their Prison Music Ministry. He is survived by his daughters, Katy (John) Kline of Murrieta, California and Molly Tippet of Olympia; father, Richard Von Tippet, Sr. of Chehalis; mother and stepfather, Adonna and Kenneth Wright of Aberdeen; sisters, Dennina (Mike) Keen of Chehalis and Diana (Mike) McGregor of Ocean Shores; a brother, Robert (Susan) Tippet of Jacksonville, Florida; five nephews and three nieces; and a special friend, Jeanne Whalen. What can be said about Rick Tippet? He had many admirable attributes and many interesting paths that he followed in his fifty-two years of life. He was a loving, caring man and he absolutely loved love and life. Rick had an adoration for the human race, seeing beauty in people that most would normally pass on by. He consistently cheered for the underdog, and stood up for what was right. He tended to be quiet, but when he had an opinion, you knew about it. Rick's sense of humor never was at the expense of others. He laughed heartily at the absurdities of human nature, the little quirks that make people individuals. When in public, Rick would search for people he knew, always wanting to be in contact with others. When he met with them, he had a warm, kind demeanor that made people very comfortable. Rick's passion for music was powerful and his preference was eclectic, ranging from from classical and Christian to rock and jazz. Rick watched lots of movies and some of his favorites were "Welcome to Collinwood", "The Quiet Man", "Dances With Wolves" and those directed by the Coen Brothers. Rick was a drummer. At a young age, his first set of drums, purchased by his parents from the Penney’s catalog, was the first time he was exposed to percussion. Starting in Aberdeen High School and through his 20’s, he played in a local Aberdeen band, The Rockles that later became Amberain. He enjoyed sharing that time with Sandy and Dick Murchy, plus other band members. Rick retired from touring the Northwest with the band to marry Sally. From that marriage were born two beautiful girls, Katy and Molly. Sally and he later divorced, but his children were the loves of his life and he was so very proud of them. When he spoke of them, the twinkle in his eye would light up a room. Further in his life, while living in Thurston County, Rick worked at the Governor House Hotel. Several years later, he got a job with the North Thurston Public School District driving school buses. During that time, he met and married Stephanie. During these years, Rick’s commitment to Jesus Christ became a dedication of spirituality in his life. On his BMW motorcycle (fondly referred to as his “sewing machine”), Rick and Stephanie went with the Christian Motorcyclist Association and played music for the inmates in many different state prisons, spreading the word of God. He and Stephanie later divorced. During the last few years of his transportation career, Rick drove the bus for children with special needs. The parents of these children depended on the bus driver to take good care of their children and Rick did just that. Driving bus was a job he took great pride in. Some people dread getting up and going to their job, but Rick did not. He was prompt and responsible to that commitment in his life. Rick lived on five acres in Rochester, WA, in the last ten years or so of his life. This was Rick’s sanctuary; here he found peace within himself. Being amongst nature was what gave him strength. His love of nature started very early on in his life. He shared it throughout his childhood and through his post- teen years with his good friends Al, Dave, Paul, Bruce G., Bruce E., Eric, Steve B. and Kelly, plus others. These men all had a connection that few friends can find with one another. Their love of nature was shared through hiking and camping together, combined with rock n’ roll, partying and Firesign Theater. Their friendship stayed strong until the day Rick died. Rick had a loving family that remained a constant in his life. He is survived by his two sisters Dennina and Diana and their two husbands, Mike and Mike, and their children; his loving brother Robert in Florida with whom he was not physically close but, through many long phone conversations that kept their relationship close as if they were together and a shared love of Jesus, with whom he shared a bond of which most brothers cannot boast; his beloved father, Richard Tippet Sr., his namesake; his mother Adonna and husband Ken. Rick's intelligence, compassion and sense of humor are definitely attributes that she had passed on to him. In the last years of his life, he rejoined the Rockles for Beatles Tribute performances. It was at one of these that he met his loving partner and "sweetie" Jeanne. They became a constant in each other’s lives. Rick had many acquaintances, but the friends and family in his life were ones that he had forever. All those he touched in his life will miss his physical presence.