Obituary of Gary Joseph Tipton

GARY J. TIPTON Gary J. Tipton of Camas, WA passed away September 22, 2008, of pancreatic cancer. He was born on July 24, 1947 in San Bernardino, CA to Gwen and Joseph Tipton. He was the oldest of four brothers. Gary grew up in Fontana, CA and graduated from Fontana High School in 1965. He then attended San Bernardino Valley Community College, receiving an AA degree and then a BA in Communications from California State University, Fullerton in 1970. Gary worked for Buckner News Alliance of Seattle as a Sports Writer, Editor and Business Manager for a succession of small daily newspapers. In 1973 he returned to Fontana as the Publisher for The Herald-News newspaper. In 1976 Gary left the paper, and attended UCLA earning an MBA in 1978. Shifting careers, Gary joined Hewlett Packard in Boise, Idaho as an Accounting Supervisor. After a year, he transferred to Vancouver as Finance Manager and to help start up the newly formed HP Vancouver Division, eventually becoming the Controller and then the Site Manager. In 1991, Gary married his wife Mary. During these years, Gary served on the Clark County United Way Board of Directors and also served on the Board of Directors of the Portland Urban League. Gary retired from HP in 1998 after 20 years. In his retirement, Gary enjoyed spending time with his family and volunteering in his youngest daughterâ??s classroom at Lacamas Elementary School. He also served as the Lacamas Elementary PTO President. As the Jack, Will, Rob Center was in its start-up phase Gary served on its Board of Directors. He then joined the Camas School Board, serving from 2005 to the present. In support of the schools, he chaired the Camas Educational Foundationâ??s Annual Phone-a-thon for the past three years. Gary was an avid sports fan, especially of Notre Dame and UCLA. Saturday afternoons in the Fall were dedicated to college football and everyone knew not to interrupt game time. Gary was known both at work and at home for his sense of humor and wit. Gary was a movie and contemporary music enthusiast who was often seen briskly walking on the Lacamas Heritage Trail with his iPod and sometimes with his favorite dog Lucy. Surviving Gary are his wife Mary, daughter Mackenzie Tipton, stepdaughters Elizabeth and Stephanie Redmond; parents, Gwen and Joseph Tipton; brothers, Mike Tipton Norma of Camas WA, Randall Tipton John Sanders Portland OR, Tom Tipton Hae of Corona CA. The family requests any donations be made to the Camas Educational Foundation to support enrichment programs for Camas schools c/o Camas School District Office, 1919 NE Ione St. Camas, WA 98607. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, September 29, 2008 at the Fallen Leaf Park in Camas at 3:00 pm. Those attending the service will be encouraged to bring and share their remembrances of Gary. His family also requests casual attire to be worn. Also, please sign the on-line guest book at www.straubsfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Straubâ??s Funeral Home & Columbia River Cremation in Camas.