Elmo left this life on Aug. 2, 2016. He was born in McCurtain, Okla., on October 28, 1923 to Valentine and Mary (Andritsch) Pipps and was the youngest of five children. His parents came to this country from Austria. He graduated from McCurtain High School and joined the Army Air Corps the next week at the age of 17. He was a ball-turret gunner in a B-24 bomber in the South Pacific and served 4 ½ years in service to our country. He was awarded a Purple Heart. In 1948 he married Joyce Conroy and they were married for nearly 68 years. He graduated from Northeastern State College with a Bachelor of Science degree and from Oklahoma A&M College with a Master of Science. He did further graduate work at the University of Oklahoma. As an educator for 42 years, he taught in McCurtain, Meeker and Tuskahoma, Okla. He moved to Shawnee in 1953 where he was employed by Shawnee Public Schools. During his tenure in Shawnee, he was a Junior High history teacher, Principal of Horace Mann School, Principal of Shawnee Junior High School, Principal of Shawnee High School, Business Manager for the district, assistant Superintendent, and interim Superintendent. Elmo has been an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church since 1954. He was a long-time member of the Kiwanis Club, a life member of NEA, a member of Pott County Retired Educators Association, the American Legion, and Friends of the Shawnee Public Library. He served Shawnee on many boards and committees. He is survived by his wife, Joyce and his two children: daughter, Mary Cloos of Oklahoma City and son, Val, and his wife Anne of Akron, Ohio; his grandchildren: Zach and Rachel Cloos of Oklahoma City, Sarah Pipps of N.Y., N.Y., and Steven Pipps of Orange, Calif; a brother-in-law and two nieces and two nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents, two brothers, two sisters, and one nephew. Services will be held on Aug. 6 at 10 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Miner's Cemetery in McCurtain, Okla. Family will meet with friends at Walker Funeral Service from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 5. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Arvest Bank to the "Elmo Pipps Scholarship Fund" to benefit a SHS student.
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