Jack Crowley Phipps was born March 8, 1917, in Dallas, Texas. He died at age 98 on February 4, 2016, in hospice care locally. He was preceded in death by parents William E. Phipps, Sr. and Willie Grasty Phipps; brother William E. Phipps, Jr.; sister Ada Phipps Harper; and daughter Heather Phipps. He is survived by wife of 64 years Joan Phipps; daughter Laurel Phipps; goddaughter Ashley McMillan; godson Adam Daugherty; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Jack grew up near Fair Park in South Dallas. He graduated with High Honors from Forest Avenue High School in 1934, ranking seventh in a class of 160. He was one of six Forest students to receive full-tuition scholarships to SMU that year. After three semesters, Jack dropped out to help with family finances in the later years of the Great Depression. Jack served in the U.S. Army Air Corps 1941-1945. After World War II, he completed his B.B.A. at SMU in 1947 courtesy of the GI Bill. He worked as an accountant in the oil and gas industry most of his professional life. Competitive sports were Jack's lifelong passion. As a young man, he enjoyed tumbling and gymnastics at the YMCA. He also played handball and golf, but his greatest sports love from age four was softball. Sadly, he retired from senior league softball at age 85, finally benched by cancer of the appendix. Jack was an active member of Elmwood United Methodist Church for 65 years. Those who knew and loved Jack would undoubtedly describe his approach to all things as follows: "Try to do the right thing, in the right way, for the right reason, the first time." Open viewing is 2:00 - 5:00 PM Sunday, February 7, 2016, at Jeter and Son Funeral Home, 4830 W. Illinois Ave., Dallas, TX 75211. Photos and memorabilia of Jack's life will be displayed. Funeral Service is 10:00AM Monday, February 8, 2016, at Elmwood United Methodist Church, 1315 Berkley Ave., Dallas, TX 75224. Interment will follow at Laurel Land Cemetery.
Published in Dallas Morning News on Feb. 7, 2016