Obituary of Dr. Frank Eugene Tippets PHD

Dr. Frank Eugene Tippets, PhD Frank Tippets was born December 7, 1927, in Morenci, AZ to Milburn and Leola Tippets. At the onset of the Great Depression of the 1930's, the family moved to Chichagof Island in southeastern Alaska where his father worked in the gold mining operation at Kimshan Cove. As there was no school in this small mining town, Frank was taken to stay with his grandparents in Woodland, CA during his school years. While in school, Frank worked part-time in various agriculture-related jobs around Woodland until his graduation from Woodland High School in 1945 as salutatorian and president of the senior class. Following graduation, he enlisted and served in the US Navy as a motor machinist mate from 1946 to 1948. In 1950 Frank met and married his wife of 62 years, Mary, who was a registered nurse in San Francisco, CA. In 1951 the couple moved to San Luis Obispo, CA, where Frank used his GI Bill to start his secondary education at California Polytechnic State College. Upon graduation in 1954 with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Math, Frank was hired by the General Electric Co. and began his career as a professional engineer. While working full-time and under GE sponsorship, Frank continued post-graduate studies and earned an MS (ME) from the University of Idaho and a PhD (ME) from Stanford University based on his research work at GE. During his career at GE, Frank accumulated thirty-six years’ experience in research, development, and design engineering for nuclear reactor powered electric generating plants with the last twenty-five years of his career at GE spent as an engineering manager in charge of advanced research and development for a variety of US government and commercial programs. Frank was a Registered Professional Engineer in California for over thirty years, and a Lifetime Member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. When Frank retired from GE in 1990, Mary also retired from her nursing career, and they moved to Coupeville, WA on Whidbey Island. Both were active members of the Coupeville Lions Club where Frank was the club treasurer. Additionally, Frank served on the Coupeville Planning Commission, the Town Council and for ten years as a volunteer firefighter, emergency medical technician, and lieutenant for the Coupeville fire station. Frank and Mary were both members of the Deception Pass Power Squadron and for several years they cruised Puget Sound among the San Juan Islands in their 22-foot powerboat "Mary D". Frank and Mary moved to Oroville, CA in 2000 where he continued his public service activity by serving as a member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol. Mary passed in 2012 and Frank passed on July 7, 2021. He is survived by five children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Frank’s remains will be interred next to his beloved wife in Memorial Park Cemetery in Oroville.