Francis Lipe

Francis Lipe CONCORD Francis Hatley Lipe, 86, of Mountview Court, died peacefully Saturday, June 1, 2013, at Tucker Hospice House. His funeral will be held at 11 a.m., today, (Wednesday, June 5), at St. John's Lutheran Church, in Concord. Officiating will be the Rev. Dr. Mark Ericson. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends, today (Wednesday), at 10 a.m., at the church, prior to the funeral. Francis was born Aug. 10, 1926, in Stanly County, to the late Dora Hatley and Clarence Lipe. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran. He enjoyed vegetable gardening and woodworking. He delighted in leaving a big bag of fresh garden veggies on his friends' doorstep or customizing a beautiful pie safe for his wife, Ann, as well as furniture, for many other family members. In his younger years, Francis briefly worked at the Hugh Gray Hosiery Mill. He made his career at Sears, and worked his retirement years at Mt. Pleasant Hardware. He was educated in the Mount Pleasant Schools and was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, in Concord. Francis is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ann Crowell Lipe, of Concord; sons, Greg Lipe of Florence, S.C. and Gary Lipe, of Concord; one sister, Lena L. Davidson; niece, Donna Carter; nephew, Don Ritchie, all of Mt. Pleasant. He is preceded in death by brother, Houston Lipe, and sister, Evelyn L. Smith. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 100 St. John's Church Rd., Concord, NC 28025. Gordon Funeral Home is serving the Lipe family. Published in Concord Kannapolis Independent Tribune on June 5, 2013.