A Celebration of Life for Donald “Don” Ray Tippit will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Temple Baptist Church Chapel in Ruston, LA. Officiating the service will be Dr. Reggie Bridges and Rev. Dale Oden. Interment will follow in Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens in Ruston under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes.
A visitation will begin at 10:00 A.M. until service time at Temple Baptist Church Chapel, 1515 S. Service Road West, Ruston, LA 71270.
Donald Ray Tippit, our beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, and dear friend passed away peacefully to be with His Lord and Savior on February 14, 2026, in his adopted hometown of Ruston, LA. His wife and daughter were by his side.
Born in Parma, MO on May 14, 1935, to Elena and Louis Tippit, Don grew up embracing life with a spirited sense of adventure and a tender heart. Don was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Ruth Reinmiller, Dorothy Richardson, and Bill Tippit. He attended school in Dexter, MO and graduated from Dexter High School in 1954.
Upon graduation Don joined the United States Marine Corps. Stationed at Kaneohe Bay, HI he served in ship-to-shore communications and played on the Marine Corps football team. A teammate led Don to Louisiana Tech where he played right guard from 1957-1961 and served as tri-captain his senior year. He was a proud Bulldog! Don graduated with a degree in Wildlife Conservation and Management in 1962, shortly after marrying the love of his life.
Don’s many interests led him to various work experiences: from a federal fish hatchery in Charles City, VA to a UCLA nuclear test site in Nevada; from insurance adjuster in Ruston to adjuster and underwriter in Seattle, WA; from personnel manager in Laurinburg, NC to developing avocado and citrus groves in rural Vista, CA. In 1997 he retired as superintendent of the Escondido Canal that delivered water to the cities of Escondido and Vista, CA.
While in California, when not coaching soccer or softball, or playing tennis, or building stilts, tree forts and playhouses, Don could be found teaching his daughters how to skin a rattlesnake, saddle a horse or build a fire. After 30 years in California, he and Patricia returned to their Ruston roots to build their dream home on twenty acres purchased in 1972.
Known for his deep love of nature and appreciation for God’s creations, Don enjoyed tending to his vegetable gardens, tinkering in his workshop, and riding his bike on country roads. An avid bike rider, he and a friend rode one hundred miles along Natchez Trace enjoying their camaraderie and the beauty of the outdoors. He was a happy backyard birder who cherished his time feeding and observing the birds that frequented the Double Tree deck. Don was a lifelong learner who loved to read and enjoyed making friends near and far on his ham radio.
Don is lovingly remembered by his wife of 64 years Patricia Kavanaugh Tippit and adoring daughters Lori, Jill and Jennifer who all reside in southern California. He will be missed by his sister Jane El Farra and sisters-in-law Terri Tippit and Martha Kavanaugh. Other surviving family members include cousins in Missouri and many nieces and nephews who have fond memories of carefree summers fishing on the pond, going on wild Jeep rides, riding horses and target shooting with him on Mission Ranch.
The family would like to thank Kim Roberson and the compassionate staff of Premier Hospice, and Dr. George Smith for his care and kindness over the years.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to 4Paws Rescue Inc., 290 Rodeo Road, Ruston, LA 71270.
