Willie Frank Tipton

Willie “Frank” Tipton, 87, died February 28, 2017 at his home in Norman. Frank was born May 4, 1929 in Vinson, Oklahoma to Jehu Jeffries Tipton and Thelma Viola Cox Tipton. He grew up in Greer County where his folks owned a large wheat and cattle farm.

Frank graduated from Reed High School in 1947, attended Draughn Business School in Wichita Falls, Texas. Meanwhile, Frank’s folks sold the farm in western Oklahoma and purchased a cattle ranch south of Ada, OK.

In 1951 Frank served in the U.S. Army, 25th Division in Korea, where he was assigned to a tank battalion and spent many missions behind enemy lines. He received the Korean Service Medal, two Bronze Battle Stars and a United Nations Service Medal.

After his return from Korea, Frank married his wife Roberta Welch on July 17, 1952 at Fittstown, OK. They celebrated 64 years of marriage this past July.

The Tipton’s first home was in Wichita, Kansas, where Frank was employed as an accountant in the financial division of the Boeing Aircraft Manufacturing Co. After two years, they moved back to Oklahoma so Frank could pursue his education. He received a teaching degree at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant.

Frank moved his family to Aztec, New Mexico and then to Delores, Colorado, where he was junior high principal. Due to his father’s ill health, they moved back to Oklahoma where he taught at Bokchito, Lone Grove, Boise City, Colony and Sickles.

In 1970 the Tiptons moved south of Anadarko. Frank became employed with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and taught at Fort Sill Indian School in Lawton for 12 years until its closure. He finished his teaching career at Tuttle and Broxton Schools in 1985.

Throughout his 30-year teaching career, Frank held positions of high school and junior high principal and taught high school math and business classes. Frank loved children of all ages and found extreme pleasure in hearing their laughter and making them squeal. He participated in hayrides, bonfires and haunted houses. Frank provided students a home for the holidays throughout his career. He sponsored numerous junior or senior classes and planned many banquets, proms, class plays and senior trips.

After retirement he then enjoyed three years at Fort Sill Base instructing the G.I.s in math. After full retirement, Frank and Roberta raised Hancock Quarter Horses.

Frank was an active member of the Anadarko Church of the Nazarene for 42 years. He served many years on the Board of Trustees, as a Sunday school teacher and head usher. In 2012, the Tipton’s moved to Norman to be close to their daughter Annette.

Frank is survived by his wife Roberta of Norman, son Stan of Rogers, Arkansas and daughter Annette of Norman, two brother-in-law’s Terry Welch and Fred Welch of Ada, one sister-in-law Helen Louise Borges of Norman, numerous nieces and nephews and hosts of friends.

He was preceded in death by his daughter Greta, his parents Jehu and Thelma and two siblings J.T. and Annette.