Doris C. Sipple

Doris Christina Sipple, of Smyrna, passed away peacefully at home on June 1, 2025, at the age of 92. Doris was born October 10th, 1932, on the family farm near Henderson, Maryland to her parents Ole Bo Christian and Marie Nielsen (Jensen). She grew up with five siblings, her now deceased siblings, sisters Clara (Hurlock) and Alma (Shelton), and brother Christian, and with her surviving sisters Ruth (Scott) and Vicki (Stoops). Her father hauled fruits and vegetables from Florida to the Philadelphia and Baltimore produce markets. She often delighted us with stories of her and her sisters playing in the refrigeration rooms on the farm, amongst the banana bunches, and finding tarantulas and other critters. It's been said that his trucks had a secret compartment where no one was allowed access. We don't know what else was traveling in those trucks, but there is a good chance that our family heritage includes pot smuggling on the Nielsen side and bootlegging on the Sipple side. She also shared with us many family adventures at Tolchester Beach and Woodland Beach Amusement Park. After graduating from Greensboro High School, Doris worked as a secretary at Latex in Dover, renting a room and cooking on a hot plate. Oh, to be young and have a simple life! On weekends she'd attend dances, and it was there in 1950 she met Paul Sipple. In 1952, she bought him a $10 suit, and they were married, and were together for 72 years. Through the 50's and 60's Doris raised her children, and was known for tumbling (cartwheel, roundoff and back flip) in the back yard. In the 70's she embarked on a 16-year career at the Smyrna A&P. Being born to full Danish parents, Doris was proud of her heritage and taught us to make ebelskivers and klejners. When Doris and Paul retired, they had a fantastic life. They had a camper at Roaring Point Campground on the Nanticoke River and Chesapeake Bay where they enjoyed boating, fishing and crabbing for many years. After the Roaring Point days, they traveled in their pick-up camper out west, and up and down the east coast. They also surf-fished on the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean well into their 80s until their little Geo Tracker was ready to rust in half.
Doris was proceeded in death by her husband Paul on May 2, 2025, and by her daughter Paula in 1996, and son Roger in 2021. She is survived by son Barry (Anita Naylor), his grandchildren Chad Greener, Joshua Sipple (Ryann), Jacob Sipple, and Julia Sipple, and sisters Vicki Stoops and Ruth Scott, as well as nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.
The family would like to thank everyone who visited and brought food, especially niece Debbie Hogsten and husband J.D., Michelle Burris, Gene and Debbie Shaner, and their good neighbors John and Stephanie Greim. The family would also like to thank the wonderful caregivers Rose Lovegrove, Debbie Nadel, Sherry Mace, and Maame Mary, and the caring people at Delaware Hospice. A private celebration of life for Paul and Doris will be held on a future date.