Dennis Hyde Tipton

Dennis Hyde Tipton, age 85, born in Mitchell Co., NC, son of Chris C. Tipton and Jennie Webb Tipton, died on December 20, 2014. He suffered from Parkinson's Disease diagnosed in 1995. He grew up in the Tipton Hill Community and graduated from Berea College in Kentucky, majoring in Geology in 1949. He taught school in Mitchell County until he enlisted in the Navy in 1950 during the Korean War. He attended Officers Candidate School and earned his Commission in January 1953 and served on active duty in the Navy until November 1954. Then he became a civilian employee as a Special Agent with the Office of Naval Intelligence (later NIS). He was assigned to Japan, Patupent River, MD, Guantico, VA, Seattle, WA, San Franciso, CA, and Charleston, SC, and retired in New Orleans, LA at the age of 50, moving back to Western N.C. He continued to be active with the Naval Reserves and retired at age 65 as a Commander while in the Naval Reserve Unit in Asheville. He worked on his father's tobacco farm in Mitchell Co., NC, which he later inherited, volunteered and supported the NC School of Science and Math in Durham, NC, attended college and high school reunions, was interested in Tipton family genealogy and made a computer print out of the results he found. He had wood working as a hobby and gardened until failing health curtailed his activities. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Beverley B. Tipton; a son, Donald M. Tipton of San Francisco, CA; and a nephew, Kenneth W. McKinney of Marion, NC. He chose to be buried in the N.C. Veteran's Cemetery at Black Mountain. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Western Carolina State Veteran's Cemetery in Black Mountain. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is assisting the family.