Joseph "Joe" Tipper, Jr

T. Joseph Tipper, Jr, age 78 of Wake Forest, North Carolina, passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2019, from a massive stroke. He was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia on July 3, 1940, a son of the late Telford Joseph Tipper and Loretta Costilow Tipper. Joe is survived by his wife of eight and a half years, Julia “Judy” Kacinec Gulas whom he married in December 11, 2010. Also surviving are three daughters, Selina Owens of Texas, Sherry Raber of New Martinsville, WV, Jodi Lea Tipper of Creedmoor, N.C. and one son Telford Joseph Tipper III of Creedmoor, N.C.: four grandchildren: Courtney Raber, Mikal Raber, Brittany Predimore and Wendy LaGuardia; as well as 5 great grandchildren. Joe is also survived by his oldest sister Nancy Tipper Hufford and her husband Jim of Clearwater Florida as well as several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Mettie Frances Ash, his sister Sondra Tipper Philippart, and her husband Thomas, and his son-in-law, Charles Raber.

Joe was a graduate of Victory High School, Class of 1958, and attended West Virginia University. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a flight mechanic and served most of his time at Seymore Johnson Air Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, and trying his hand at a few things, Joe eventually landed at the U. S. Postal System. He worked his way up from a mail carrier to Postmaster. His last assignment with the Postal system was Postmaster of Sistersville, West Virginia.

During his time in W.Va., Joe served on the town council in Pine Grove, W.Va. and enjoyed his passion for woodworking. Joe was most proud that he built a log house with the assistance of his son.

Joe and his wife joined two of his children in North Carolina in 1996. He was employed by Electric Cities of Raleigh for the next 21 years. Joe was well loved and respected by all of his colleagues at work and also in the community. He was a very kind, gentle man, with a positive attitude and an incredible sense of humor. He enjoyed watching cooking shows and PBS, while hanging out with his beloved dogs Lilly and Sawyer.

A time of visitation will be held from 6-8 pm on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at Bright Funeral Home, 405 S. Main St. Wake Forest. A funeral mass will be held at St. Catherine of Sienna Church at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday June 19, 2019 with Father Jim McGee officiating.

Family requests that memorial contributions be made to Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 or Saving Grace Animal Shelter, PO Box 1649, WAKE Forest, NC 27588.
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