Ralph Shipp of Lenoir, North Carolina returned to his Heavenly Father on Monday, January 18, 2021. He was 93 years young.
Ralph Earl Shipp was born on September 17, 1927 in Washington DC to Walter Eugene Shipp and Daisy Love McKay Shipp. He was raised in Washington DC with his brothers and sisters all of whom predeceased him. These include Wallace Shipp, Evelyn Shipp Cozzi, Gloria Shipp Bowen and Thomas Shipp. Ralph met his eternal companion, Patsy Dee Hopgood in elementary school. They celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary before she died on 13 January, 2010. They raised their family, daughters DeeAnn Buck who predeceased him, Laura Catherine Lewis of Lenoir NC (Robert Kemper) and Robin Shipp Ritchey of Gaithersburg MD; and son Ralph Craig of Sarasota FL, in the Maryland suburbs. Ralph is survived by 12 grandchildren. He was able to meet 20th great grandchild shortly before his passing.
Devout Christians they taught their children to believe in God and Jesus Christ, and to love one another. Ralph was very active in the Methodist Church in Wheaton MD and was named Methodist Man of the Year in 1990. In 1991 he and Patsy joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and a year later were sealed in the Washington DC Temple for time and all eternity. He and Patsy served a full time mission for the church as office couple in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission. They served in many positions within the church and he had a strong testimony of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Ralph served in the Navy in World War II. He chose the Navy because of his last name but quickly found he got seasick. His service was short as the war ended, He often joked that they surrendered when they found out he had enlisted. Ralph was a self taught electrical engineer and later aerospace engineer, working for Emerson, CEI, and Fairchild Industries in the Maryland area. He was most proud of the fact that he participated in the building of satellites that were deployed over Appalachia and India for education. In the 1970s Patsy began a successful real estate career and Ralph joined her a few years later since she was making more money than he was! Right before this they were having layoffs at his employer. When a young father with small children was given a layoff slip, Ralph went to the boss and asked to be laid off instead. The gentleman kept in touch with Ralph for years and was profoundly grateful. Ralph and Pat were a highly successful Real Estate Team and won many awards and trips as well as formed life long friendships with many of their clients.
Ralph always looked for ways to help others, especially senior single women. He and Patsy would visit nursing homes and bring milk shakes. Once Patsy was gone he befriended Donna, who had dementia. He took her on many adventures. She always remembered his name even if she couldn’t remember what they had done the day before. When he relocated to Lenoir NC he began to take out the senior single women from church and they dubbed themselves “Shipp’s Crew”. They all enjoyed their monthly dinners filled with stories and laughter.
Patsy and Ralph traveled the world but were happiest at home. His favorite foreign location was New Zealand. In 1995 the life long Washingtonians followed their daughters, Laura and Robin and relocated to North Carolina. From this home base, they loved spending time in their 5th wheel trailer and then Motor Home traveling all over the United States and Canada.They made it a mission to visit all the Temples in the United States and almost managed to keep up as new Temples were built. Along the way they would visit relatives and the many friends they collected over the years. At home he was grandfather to 13 and great grandfather to 20 who lovingly called him “Grandad”. He built an expansive train set up with bartering stations. He enjoyed many hours of play with the grandchildren and then great grandchildren. The train town was named “Showville - where nothing is worth what you pay for it”.
Ralph is survived by every heart he touched and every hand he ever held. A celebration of his life will include The memorial service on Wednesday January 20th at 1:30 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Connelly Springs Road, Lenoir NC. Interment at Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte NC will be private. In lieu of flowers please donate to Caldwell Hospice, 902 Kirkwood St NW, Lenoir, NC 28645 or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in care of Laura Lewis’s home address.
(Published in Charlotte Observer on Jan. 14, 2010.)
Patsy Dee Hopgood Shipp
Mrs. Shipp, of Cornelius, NC, formerly of Silver Spring, MD, returned to her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, January 13, 2010. She was 80 years young. She lived her life with unwavering faith, abiding love, profound wisdom, and in service to others. To the end, when asked how she felt, she answered 'happy.'
Patsy was born on May 15, 1927 in Washington, DC. Patsy and her eternal companion, Ralph Earl Shipp, raised their family--daughters, Dee Ann Buck (Irv), Fairfax, VA, Laura Lewis (John), Cornelius, NC and Robin Ritchey (Ken), Raleigh, NC, and son, Craig Shipp, Sarasota, FL, and taught their children to believe in God and Jesus Christ, and to love one another. Patsy excelled in her first career, full-time homemaker and later as a successful Realtor. She loved being 'Gammy' to 13 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren, and she frequently asked, 'Have I told you today that I love you?'
Patsy is also survived by brothers, Roy, Earl, Daniel; sister, Sandra Rada and every heart she ever touched and every hand she ever held. She only gave hugs, never handshakes.
A celebration of her life will begin with the visitation on Friday, January 15, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, 494 East Plaza Drive, Mooresville, NC. The memorial service will be on Saturday, January 16, at 3 p.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 148 Lazy Lane, Mooresville, NC. Interment at Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte, NC, will be private.
In lieu of flowers, Patsy would like everyone to begin a Christmas Jar (see www.patsydeeshipp.com for details) or donate to Hospice of Lake Norman, 705 Griffith St., Suite 203, Davidson, NC, 28056.
Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, NC, is serving the Shipp Family.
(Memorial Service for Ralph Earl Shipp)
Ralph Earl Shipp - One of the good guys!
September 17, 1927-January 18, 2021 by Craig Shipp on 22 1mo 2021
Ralph Earl Shipp - July 11, 2016 by Craig Shipp on 22 1mo 2021
Ralph Earl Shipp - 90th birthday by Craig Shipp on 22 1mo 2021
Ralph Earl Shipp
Patsy Dee