Richard Zipp

Richard L Zipp passed away peacefully on March 3, 2025, at the age of 83.
Richard (Dick) was born on February 27, 1942, in Seattle, WA, the son of John and Anne Zipp. He grew up on Beacon Hill, attended St George Elementary School and graduated from Cleveland High School in 1961.
Dick was a 4th-degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a great friend to all and he loved spending time with his family. He had an extensive album and DVD collection, loved model trains, puzzles, playing cards with his cousins, anything Disney or Elvis, and he loved to cook and spend time with family and friends.
Dick was many things during his life. Among those events, events he rarely discussed and never really publicized, was his service in the US Army.
Dick was drafted and entered the Army in April 1967. Unlike many during this period of an unpopular war, Dick answered the call to service and courageously reported for duty. He completed his basic training and reported for advanced individual training as a member of the US Army Signal Corps. He trained and qualified as a Senior Telephonic Switchboard Operator.
Following training and like a half million of his fellow citizens, Dick reported to the Republic of Vietnam in April 1968 at the height of combat operations and the most bloody period of the war. On arrival in country, he was assigned to Long Binh and Bien Hoa shortly after the Tet Offensive. The Long Binh - Bien Hoa complex was the largest ground and Air Force base in Vietnam at the time and home to multiple major combat, combat support and logistics units. At the time there was a need for Army cooks to support both ongoing base operations as well as to provision smaller remote combat posts. Dick stepped up again and reported to the logistics command to support the effort. It was here, where Dick was exposed to Agent Orange. Long Binh was one of the major storage sites for hazardous chemicals in Vietnam. The Department of Defense later recognized the consequences of exposure to these hazardous dioxin compounds and the profound effects they had on many former service members.
Dick returned to Oakland, California on completion of his tour in Vietnam and after a brief period of leave, was discharged from the Army in 1969.
He went on to work as a custodian for the United States Postal Service for 32 years.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents John and Anne Zipp, his sister Anne Marie Cox, and his sister Nancy Eberhardt. He is survived by his brother Robert Zipp (Kathy), his sister Sylvia Zipp, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.