Virgil Ray Tipton was born November 30, 1940, in Ada, Oklahoma, to Jo Lee Brumley-Tipton and Ray Ellsworth Tipton as a Sooners fan.
Growing up in Ada, he and his cousin, James Lollar, created havoc wherever they could. Virgil’s orneriness started early and ran deep; he loved to laugh and joke. Both boys were involved in Amateur Radio Operating. Virgil graduated from Ada High School in 1959, where he was a member of the tennis team. He attended East Central University in Ada on a tennis scholarship, and earned a BS Degree in English. Virgil joined the US Navy, where he served in the Office of Naval Intelligence and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, during Vietnam. While overseas, he played chess, took up golf, and talked to his dad and cousin regularly via Ham Radio. After returning, he attended East Central for his Masters and the University of Oklahoma School of Law on the GI Bill and graduated with a Juris Doctorate.
Virgil met his wife, Penny Sue Savely, and her son, Chad Wayne Shelton, in Oklahoma City. Penny says it was a blind date, but Virgil would only admit that he was there for the food. Virgil and Penny were married three short months later on March 25, 1971. They moved to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma where he practiced law. Their daughter, Nicole Suzanne, was born June 2, 1976, in Pauls Valley, right after Virgil returned from the golf course. Virgil served as City Attorney. He was later appointed to the bench to serve as a Special District Judge for Garvin and McClain Counties, which allowed more time for the improvement of his golf game. He retired in 1998 where he took up his hobbies full time.
Virgil spent many early years in Pauls Valley raising money for tennis courts, giving tennis lessons, and working on developing a strong tennis program for the community. He was an avid golfer whose goal was to always shoot lower than his age. He taught a number of people to play golf and was involved in the design and development of the current PV Golf Course. He continued as a HAM Radio Operator, call sign K5DYA, where he spoke with thousands from all over the world during his lifetime. He was extremely disciplined which allowed him to master tasks and acquire skills. Virgil enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing chess and guitar, and spending time in his workshop building R/C airplanes and woodworking. He was a fan of art, literature, cartography, and music. He was a deacon of the First Presbyterian Church.
Virgil and Penny moved to Norman, Oklahoma, in 2014, to spend more time with their daughter and grandson. Virgil enjoyed spending time with his family playing cards and domino games, teaching Zane golf, tennis, and chess, and picking Zane up from school. He recently attended the Golden Tiger Ceremony at East Central as a 50 year alumnus. Virgil is remembered by many for his orneriness, his personality, his honesty, and always laughing at his own jokes.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Virgil and Mary Rushing-Brumley and James and Sallie McCollum-Tipton; his mother and father, Jo Lee and Ray Tipton; his sister, Billie Jo Tipton; and his cousin, James Lollar.
He is survived by his immediate family including his wife, Penny Tipton of Norman, Oklahoma; his son, Chad Shelton and his wife, Paula, of Calgary, Canada; his daughter, Nicole Tipton-Watkins of Norman, Oklahoma; his grandson, Zane Watkins of Norman. His extended family includes his brother-in-law, Gary Savely and his wife, Frances, of Oklahoma City; his nephew, Monty Roberts and his wife, Brenda, of Azle, Texas; his nephew, Gabe Savely and his wife, Rebecca, of Oklahoma City; Matt Savely and his wife, Julie, of Oklahoma City; and his niece, Kathy Nabors and her husband, John, of Chickasha, Oklahoma. Virgil's great nieces and nephews include Jeremy Thomas, Jared Thomas, Bo Roberts, Shelby Savely, Sarah Savely and Bryan Nabors; along with other extended family and many, many friends.
While the family is greatly saddened by the loss of this great man, they wish for everyone that knew and loved Virgil to come and help celebrate his life...a life very well lived!
A memorial service will be held Friday, January 6, 2023, 1 p.m., at Pauls Valley First Presbyterian Church.
