David R. Lipphardt

In Martins Ferry, Ohio on April 27, 1931, Raoul and Edith (Riggs) Lipphardt welcomed Dave into their family. Dave grew into an adventurous and inquisitive boy and he and his dad would roam the Ohio River Valley fishing, boating, and identifying the local flora and fauna. His interest in and awareness of the natural world stayed with him throughout his life. Dave was inventive and mischievous, and his boyhood pranks got him into trouble more than once.

After graduation from Moundsville High School, in 1949, Dave joined the United States Navy where he was trained to be an avionics technician. He served four years in Honolulu during the Korean War. Dave was proud to be a veteran and never missed an occasion to display his patriotism. Years later he participated in an Honor Flight and it was a memorable experience for him.

Returning to civilian life he enrolled at The Ohio State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering. After beginning his career at Western Electric he accepted the challenge offered him by Resinoid Engineering to build and operate a factory in Hebron, Ohio. Under Dave’s leadership, Resinoid soon became a top producer in its field. OSU recognized Dave’s accomplishments by being awarded the College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni award in 1996.

While at OSU he met and fell in love with nursing student, Sandra Long, and soon Dave was working, studying, and being a husband and father. One of the jobs he especially enjoyed was working as a student supervisor on the Ohio State University Radio Observatory (Big Ear) in Delaware. This was part of the OSU Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).

Dave and Sandy moved to Granville, Ohio in 1965 where they raised their three children and made many lifelong friendships. Dave was active in the First Presbyterian Church of Granville since 1966.

Dave was known as Mr. Fix It because there was virtually nothing he couldn’t repair - from plumbing to broken vases to toy and doll mishaps. The family enjoyed many vacations at Portage Point Inn, Michigan where he enjoyed teaching many friends and guests how to water ski. Dave loved to fish, ski, bike, boat, fly model airplanes, and operate ham radios. His positive and determined attitude gave him a zest for life regardless of challenges. When he was in his eighties he rode a zip line upside down in Costa Rica.

After 39 years of marriage Sandy was tragically taken from him and the children. Eventually Dave started a new life with Janice Shurtz. They enjoyed 29 years of active retirement. Dave and Jan, both ardent skiers, replaced his beach home in Michigan with a condo in Colorado where they skied in the winter, biked and hiked in the summer, and square-danced year-round. When they were back in Ohio after frequent travels, they rode their Can Am trike exploring mostly local sights. When motorcycling and traditional biking were no longer options, they continued their adventures on recumbent E bike trikes and were often seen on the local trails.

Dave had a full and productive 93 years of life and leaves behind his wife, Janice; daughters and son, Jennie (Paul) Richards, Todd Lipphardt (Lisa Blankenship), and Heidi Lipphardt (Clay Kretzer); grandchildren, Katie Persons, Molly Persons, and Austin Lipphardt; Michael (Sarah) Lipphardt, Lauren Lipphardt (Adam Zamprelli), and Matthew (Shealin) Easthardt, and their children (great-grandchildren), Matthew, Jackson, and Brooklyn Lipphardt, and Banning Easthardt; stepchildren, David Shurtz and Andrea Shurtz; grandchildren, Ariel and Tanner Shurtz; great-grandddaughter, Eva Shurtz; and special friends, Craig and Susie Thom.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Sandra Lipphardt; and his beloved sister, Lois Forsch.

Services will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice or to The David R. Lipphardt 1959 Endowment Fund in Integrated Systems Engineering, Fund 604245 at The Ohio State University Foundation, P.O. Box 736096, Chicago, IL 60673-6096.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Dave and his family.