Henry L. Sippy

Henry L. (Hank) Sippy, 85, of 670 Thoburn Ct. (Wesbury), Meadville, and Highlands Ridge Sebring, FL, passed away peacefully Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at Meadville Medical Center after a period of failing health. He was born in the state of Indiana August 20, 1922, a son of the late Robert and Ina Floor Sippy. He married Wilda Glenn March 21, 1942. Henry was a pioneer in the tool and die industry in the Meadville area. He founded Sipco Tool and Die in 1959 and pursued the development of technology in manufacturing his entire career. He was named a Legend of the Industry in 1999 for his advancement of tool and die in Northwestern PA. He was honored as a forerunner of new technologies and manufacturing innovation. He began his career at Talon, Inc. in 1941, where he served his tool and die apprenticeship following World War II. He enjoyed the trade, later working with his two sons. Hank retired from Sipco in 1987. Hank graduated from Meadville High School. He served with the U.S. Army, Third General Hospital in Africa and the European Theater during World War II. His primary joy was his family, with whom he enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, camping, boating and playing card games of any type. He was a member of Stone United Methodist Church, a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Meadville, a member and past president of the Country Club of Meadville, 50-year member of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, Crawford Lodge 234, a life member of the Zem Zem Shrine Temple of Erie, Scottish Rite 32nd degree, life member of the Meadville Elks Lodge 219, and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2006. He and his wife enjoyed traveling extensively with friends and family. On their journeys, they visited all 50 states as well as many countries and islands all over the world. They spent winters in Florida following his retirement. Hank was an excellent craftsman and wood worker. His hobby of building and flying scale model airplanes led him to build miniature doll houses for each of his five granddaughters and remote controlled vehicles or train villages for his four grandsons. Henry is survived by Wilda, his loving wife of 66 years, four beloved children, Larry Sippy and his wife Margaret of Saegertown, Lon Sippy and his wife Rhonda, Linda Olmstead, and Luann Way, all of Meadville; he leaves nine much loved grandchildren, Kinta and Gary Alizzeo, Tami and Chris Adams, Amy Way, and Mark H. Sippy, all of Meadville; Jill and Jeff Diefenbach of Richmond, VA; Ben Sippy of San Diego, CA; Jessica and Michael Armant, Dane Olmstead, and Aric and Laura Way, all of Erie; eight precious great-grandchildren; a brother, Donald Sippy and his wife Alice, a sister, Ruby Fugagli, and a sister-in-law, Dorothy Boyd and her husband Kenneth, all of Meadville; a sister-in-law, June Sippy of Ogden, UT; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Barbara Sippy; 3 brothers, Merl Sippy, Robert Sippy, Jr, and an infant Sherman Sippy; and a son-in-law, Reverend Gerald Olmstead. Calling hours are today (Friday) from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville. A funeral service will be Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. John V. Spahr, Pastor of Stone United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Stone United Methodist Church, 956 S. Main St., Meadville, PA 16335, Wesbury Foundation, 31 N. Park Ave., Meadville, PA 16335, or NTMA Education Foundation of Northwestern PA, P.O. Box 3748, Erie, PA 16508.