LEE DENNIS PHILIPP

December 12, 1935 - January 13, 2011

Einan's Funeral Home

On Thursday, January 13, 2011, Lee Philipp passed away at Kadlec Medical Center.

Lee was born near Colby, Kansas, on December 12, 1935, to Geneva and Carl Philipp. His family lived on a wheat farm until he was 14 when they moved to Boulder, Colorado. He lived in Boulder until he finished high school and joined the Air Force where he was stationed in Alaska. While in Alaska, it became the 49th state of the United States, and he attended the celebration in Fairbanks.

It was in the Air Force that he found his calling of electronics and electrical engineering. Lee's last Air Force assignment was in Michigan where he met his wife, Sherry. After they were married, he decided to continue his education in Boulder where he received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. After graduation, they moved to Richland, Washington, where he worked in the Hanford area for General Electric and Battelle Northwest.

During his tenure at Hanford, Lee earned his master's degree from the University of Washington. The family took a three-year sabbatical in Albuquerque while Lee completed his Ph.D. in electrical engineering at the University of New Mexico. They then returned to Richland where Lee worked for Westinghouse and Battelle until 1981.

Lee then took a teaching position at WSU Tri-Cities where he developed the Electrical Engineering Program for the university and taught until his retirement in 2000. Teaching proved to be Lee's true passion, encouraging every student to excel. He remained a strong advocate for education long after his retirement.

Lee loved the outdoors. He and his family spent much of their free time boating on the Columbia River in the summer and snow skiing in winter. His favorite vacation spot was Priest Lake, Idaho, where he enjoyed boating and camping on the islands for many years.

After retiring, he enjoyed biking, skiing and walking as well as researching the Civil War. He was able to take several trips to various places including a tour of Civil War battlefields with friends and annual trips to the Pacific Coast and the Priest Lake cabin with family.

Lee is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sherry (Hait) Philipp; sister Mary Pollart of Kingston, Rhode Island; daughters Barbara Philipp and Nancy Philipp, both of Richland; sons Paul Philipp, wife Janie (Branch) Philipp, granddaughters Jasmine and Brianna and grandson Brandon of Woodinville, WA; son John Philipp, wife Madonna (Glines) Philipp, grandsons Austin and Seaver and granddaughter Mallory of Ellensburg, WA. He was preceded in death by his parents, Geneva and Carl Philipp, sister Joyce Shanks and brother Charles Philipp.

A memorial mass will be held at Christ the King Church, 1111 Stevens Dr. in Richland, Saturday, January 22, at noon with reception to follow in gathering place. Military salute to follow at 3:00 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Richland.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be sent to WSU Tri-Cities to the Lee D. Philipp scholarship fund or to Christ the King Church.

Express your thoughts and memories on our online Guestbook at www.einansfuneralhome.com.