Charles (Charlie) A. Sipe

Charles (Charlie) A. Sipe, Jr. died peacefully on December 16, 2015 at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, Tennessee. He was born on November 22, 1922 in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. Charlie graduated from Bedford High School in Bedford, Pennsylvania in 1940 and received a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Alabama in 1947. He worked for Alabama Power, Tennessee Valley Authority, Bays Mountain Construction Company, and Tennessee Eastman Company, retiring from Eastman in 1986.

After retirement from Tennessee Eastman, Charlie worked with Eastman Credit Union overseeing the construction of several new branches in the Kingsport area and also worked for the Kingsport City School System with renovations and new construction for several elementary schools as well as the City of Kingsport with the construction of the Kingsport/Sullivan County Justice Center.

Charlie served honorably in the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant and an Engineer Paratrooper with the 307th Airborne Engineering Battalion in the European Theatre during World War II.

He was of the Methodist faith and served in various positions at Mafair United Methodist Church. Charlie was a devoted teacher and taught the Loyalty Sunday School Class for 54 years. He was active in the Kingsport community serving with the Sequoyah Council of the Boy Scouts, Rotary Club, Friends of Allendale, and many other organizations throughout the years.

Charlie was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Nelle H. Sipe; son, George William Sipe; parents, C.A. and Isabel W. Sipe; aunt and uncle, Eleanor and J. Roy Early, who raised him after the death of his parents; niece, Eleanor Louise Dudley; brother-in-law, Frank M. Dudley; and sister, Elizabeth (Betty) Louise Sipe Dudley.

He is survived by his son, James (Jim) Allen Sipe and wife, Phyllis B. Sipe of Kingsport, TN; grandsons, Justin T. Wright and wife, Elizabeth of Palm Harbor, Florida, and TSGT Jay T. Wright, USAF (Ret.), Cocoa, Florida; niece, Linda Williams and husband, Forrest of Oldsmar, Florida; and two great-nieces, Louise Fode of Anchorage, Alaska, and Abbie Sauerwein and husband, Joe of Oregon, Ohio.

The family will receive friends on Friday from 5-7:00 pm at Mafair United Methodist Church, 1409 E. Center St., Kingsport, TN. The funeral service will follow at 7:00 pm with The Rev. Kim Goddard officiating.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday at East Lawn Memorial Park, 4997 Memorial Blvd., Kingsport, TN. Family members and friends will gather at East Lawn at 10:45 am.

Pallbearers will be Steve Bingham, Jim Downs, Jeff Summar, Chad Shanks, Mike Trent, Justin Wright and TSGT Jay T. Wright, USAF (Ret.)

Honorary pallbearers will be members of Mafair Loyalty Sunday School Class, retirees of Bays Mountain Construction Company as well as special friends from Pennsylvania, North Carolina and South Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Mafair United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund, 1409 East Center Street, Kingsport, TN 37664.

Cemetery Details