Richard J. Phillipe

Richard J. "Dick" Phillipe, 86, Tipton died at 11:35 a.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at his residence.  He was born in Portland, Maine on February 23, 1924 to Margaret (Sanborn) and Peter Phillipe.  On June 22, 2002 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Tipton he married Judy M. Shuck and she survives.

He graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1943.  Dick left January 26, 1943 for World War II with the U.S. Navy.  He served with the 70th Battalion of Naval Seabees in North Africa and Okinawa.  He was called back during the Korean War and served fourteen months aboard the U.S.S. Grand Canyon with the 6th Fleet.

Dick spent 25 years in the woodworking business as Vice President and General Manager in the U.S. and Canada for Concord Woodworking Company and later retiring in 1985 as Vice President of manufacturing for Buck Creek Lumber Company.

He has lived in Tipton County since 1963 and was a past board member of the Tipton Community School Corporation and St. John's school board.  He belonged to the Elks, American Legion and 4th Degree K of C.  Dick was a past president of the Lions Club, Kiwanis and past member of the Tipton Board of Zoning appeals. 

In 1992 Phillipe started the Tipton County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity and served as its Executive Director for many years.  A donation of land to Habitat in 1994 was the start of Koinonia Village East of Tipton where seven homes for low-income families were constructed by Habitat volunteers under Dick's watchful eye.  A group of 500 young people from Minnesota came to Tipton in 2002 to do repairs and painting for people in need.  He has lead two groups of volunteers to the southern states ravaged by hurricane Katrina to assist in the rebuilding.

The recipient of many awards for his service Dick received the Tipton County Distinguished Citizen award, St. John's Parish appreciation award, Suns of Kiwanis lay person of the year, Channel 6 leadership award, Elks Distinguished Citizen and Elks Citizen of the Year, Red Cross Hero of the Year, Boy Scout Distinguished Citizen, Indiana University Public Service award, and the Tipton Samaritan Heart Award.

Dick is survived by his wife Judy of Tipton; two daughters, Carol Ann Yee and husband Ed, Maryland and Patti M. Watters, Bristol, Indiana; step children Todd Shuck and wife Denise, Franklin, Tom Shuck, Lafayette, Tandy Waddick and husband Mike, Greenwood, and Talene Shuck, Indianapolis.  He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR, New York City, Tim Fletcher and wife Tina, Carmel, Megan Fletcher, Oregon, Christopher Cox, South Carolina, Jeff Cox and wife Amy, South Carolina, Ashley Welles, Bristol, and David Watters, Bloomington;  eight step-grandchildren Abby Shuck, Caity Shuck, Hannah Shuck, T.J. Shuck, Tera Clouser, Savannah Waddick, Conner Waddick, and Cameron Waddick; 12 great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren and one brother, John Phillipe, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Preceding him in death were his first wife, Jackie M. Phillipe, a daughter, Jeannie Fletcher, a step-granddaughter, Tabitha Shuck Raines, and three brothers, Robert, Pete and Donald Phillipe.

His funeral will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR, presiding.  Military honors will be provided at the church prior to the start of the Mass.  Visitation will be from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Young-Nichols Funeral Home, Tipton where the Divine Mercy Chaplet will be recited at 7:00 p.m.  Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John's School, 323 Mill Street, Tipton, Indiana, 46072, Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, St. Joseph Friary, 523 W. 142nd Street, New York, New York, 10031, or Habitat for Humanity, 120 Sweetland Avenue, Tipton, Indiana, 46072.