Mr. William A. Tipper

TIPPER, Mr. William A. - Age 80, passed away Friday, April 26, 2013 at Hurley Medical Center. Family hour 10 a.m. Friday, May 3, 2013 at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 424 Kennelworth Ave., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Rev. Dr. Major A. Stewart officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10 a.m. Friday. Mr. Tipper will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12 noon-8 p.m. Thursday, with Omega Service under the auspices of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at 6 p.m. Service will be streamed at www.mtoliveflint.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Flint Area Education Foundation C/O Community Foundation of Greater Flint, 500 S. Saginaw St. Ste 200, Flint, MI 48502 or The Roy I Greer Scholarship Fund C/O: Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 424 Kennelworth, Flint, MI 48503 or Alpha Esquires Mentoring and Scholarship Program. Mr. William Albert Tipper was born on May 23, 1932 in Aliquippa, PA to Rev. Oliver R. Tipper Sr. and Arrie D. Tipper. Bill was a graduate of Aliquippa High, where, as a star athlete he earned letters in basketball, football and track. After high school graduation, he continued his education at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO. where he lettered in football and track, sang in the University Choir, served on the student council, pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education. He later received a Master’s in Community Education from Eastern Michigan University. Upon moving to Flint in 1955 he worked with the City Department of Recreation, and with Genesee County Probate Court Juvenile Division. He also worked for Flint Community Schools as a Teacher, Community School Director and High School Administrator for 32 years retiring in 1992. A phenomenal athlete, he was inducted into the Aliquippa Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 and into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He was always encouraged to recognize that “every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above”. In keeping with that belief, Bill served Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church on the Board of Trustees for more than 20 years, as Treasurer for 10 years, and was involved in various church functions including; Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Church athletics, Black History month observances and sang with the Male Chorus. He also served on the By-Laws, the Pastoral Search, Finance, Debt Reduction and Scholarship Committees. Always involved in Community service, he has served on the boards of the Y.M.C.A, Tall Pine Boy Scouts, Big Brothers of Flint, Flint Cultural Center, and The Flint School Board of Education. He served on the City-Wide Advisory Committee under three mayors, The Neighborhood Renewal Program and Heart in the City and was currently serving on the board of Court Street Village Non-Profit Corp. A very active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, Bill celebrated his 60th year as an “Alpha Man” on April 18, 2013. He has served on the local, state and national levels throughout the years as secretary and president of the local chapter- Epsilon Upsilon Lambda, as Director of the State of Michigan and Co-Chair of the National Election Commission. Bill was very proud to have been appointed by the National President of Alpha Phi Alpha to become National Chairman of the Senior Alpha Affairs. Mr. William A. Tipper leaves to cherish his memory: loving wife, Betty Jean Tipper; son, Keith (Karen) Tipper; daughters, Anndrea Greer and Lori (Ken) Watkins; 3 step children, Tonya (Richard) Battle, Candice (Alvin) Burns and Anthony Jackson Sr.; grandchildren, Thomas Greer, Alex Watkins, Jessica Tipper, William Michael (Kelsie)Tipper and 15 step grandchildren; 1 niece; 2 nephews; uncle, Bennie Bell of Philadelphia, Pa.; 6 sisters-in-law; 1 brother-in-law; God daughter, Tina Bell; many cousins and a host of other relatives and dear friends. He was preceded in death by parents, Rev. Oliver R. and Arrie Dee Tipper; brother, Oliver R. Tipper Jr.; mother-in law, Louise C. Jackson; step-grandson, Darrius Robinson; and former wife, Alyce Renfro Tipper. The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. Major A. Stewart, the officers and members of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Dr. R. Pedireddy and The At Home Network.

Mr. William A. Tipper

May 23, 1932 - April 26, 2013