Obituary

Ray Curtis Tippie, age 96, passed away on June 22, 2020 in Bellingham, Washington. Ray was born in Bellingham on April 2, 1924 to Ray and Eva Tippie. He was raised in Whatcom County and was in the very first class to graduate from Bellingham High School in 1941. Just after graduation, Ray joined the U.S. Navy and went on to serve in the South Pacific. In 1942, Ray married his late wife, Gloria Tippie, and they enjoyed a long and loving marriage until Gloria passed away on April 10, 2008.

Ray was an amazing father and husband. He worked hard for 40 years at the phone company to support his family and provide the good, simple life they enjoyed. They shared so many great memories of their wonderful childhood and time spent with family. Ray loved working on old Volkswagens or any old car the boys managed to drag home. He always made their friends feel welcome and would help you out anytime, however he could.

Ray and Gloria also loved to go adventuring in their RV and made lasting friendships wherever they went. They were members of Thousand Trails for 30 years and enjoyed nothing more than exploring the best campgrounds the west had to offer.

Ray was genuine, outgoing, and loved meeting new people. If you were a friend of Ray’s, you were friends for life, whether you met in childhood, during his time in the Navy, or through Thousand Trails later on. He was deeply loved by family and friends alike, and his memory will live on through them.

Ray was preceded in death by his wife Gloria and their son Curtis. He is survived by his sons Ray (Carol) Tippie and Jeffery (Linda) Tippie, his granddaughters Jennifer Tippie, and Nicole Lawshe, and his girlfriend Linda Struck, all of whom loved him dearly.

Ray will be laid to rest at Bayview Cemetery in Bellingham, Washington. A celebration of his life with military honors will be held later this year when we can all gather together again.

(Please check back here for eventual service details).