Aj Phipps Jr.

1936 - 2025

AJ Phipps Jr.
09/06/1936 - 04/14/2025
September 6, 1936 – April 14, 2025
AJ Phipps Jr. passed away peacefully on April 14, 2025, in Houston, Texas. He was 88 years old.
Born in Kilgore, Texas, on September 6, 1936, to Andrew Jackson "Jack" Phipps and Chloe Marea Anderson Phipps, AJ's life was one marked by deep faith, a strong work ethic, adventurous spirit, and an unwavering love for his family and community.
A graduate and President of his Kilgore High School class. AJ played football there and served as State Treasurer of the Junior Classical League. It was at a JCL meeting in Baytown where he met the love of his life, Joan Franklin. Their marriage of 66 years was a true partnership rooted in shared faith, family, and curiosity for the world.
AJ earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas followed by an MBA from Harvard Business School. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Chi, and his professional accomplishments were as varied as they were distinguished. From early work in his father's feed and grocery store, Phipps and Company, AJ went on to hold key roles at Monsanto, Bonner & Moore, and Tenneco. He co-founded Crosby, Phipps & Ross, and later served as a consultant for Purvin & Gertz, while also supporting Joan in her business, Sandalwood Associates.
His work often took him around the world, consulting for oil and chemical companies and later in sourcing fuel for power projects-work he found particularly fulfilling. Yet, no matter how far he traveled, AJ's heart was always with his family, ensuring that travel became a formative experience for his children and grandchildren-full of hiking, skiing, canoeing, scuba diving, and endless exploring.
Faith was central to AJ's life. He and Joan were devoted members of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church since 1966, where he served as an elder, deeply involved in the Giving Committee, Faith Explorations Sunday School, Alpha, and numerous service roles and missions to Africa, Europe and Asia. He was also a committed volunteer with the Spring Woods Middle School MDPC mentoring program and played key leadership roles in Faith in Practice, a medical mission in Guatemala, participating in seven mission trips.
AJ was also President of the North American Society of Corporate Planners and a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. A lifelong learner, he took novel writing classes at Rice University, wrote five novels, and published one.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his stepmother, Patsy Phipps. He is survived by his beloved wife, Joan; sons, Drew Benjamin (Tina), Kenneth Franklin (Karen), and Ron Anderson (Anita); grandchildren, Christina Monique Phipps, Giulio Rose Gianinni, Andrew Franklin Phipps, Ruby Rose Phipps, and Sarah Marie Phipps; brother, Joe Dean Phipps (Sue); and stepbrother, David Phipps; and dear friends.
A celebration of AJ's life will be held at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church April 24th. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to MDPC.org or to Faithinpractice.org, two causes close to his heart.