Lee joined the Army and then served in the Pacific Theater in World War II in the 13th Jungle Air Force. Despite grueling conditions, he learned to manage facilities and personnel. He was awarded eight major battle stars, including Guadalcanal. After the war, he managed businesses in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines.
Notes from Lee's wife - Margaret (Brandhorst):
World War II was upon us and so was the fever to marry as soon as possible. Lee Tipton, who was my college
boyfriend, and I married in July, 1942. Then I had to give up a top Dietetic Internship, because the program did not
allow interns to be married.
Lee was drafted and was sent to the South Pacific Theater, part of the 13th Jungle Air Force. While Lee was
serving in the war, I joined some of my Iowa State professors at the Kaiser Ship Building Company in Portland,
Oregon. The U.S. needed ships for the war, and with men away at service, Kaiser needed women to build the ships.
Yet woman had responsibilities for their children, so Kaiser established day care centers for the children. I worked
at the preschool in nutrition, under the guidance of a famed child nutritionist, Miriam Lowenberg. It was a
wonderful experience working with the best known professional of day care centers.
After World War II ended, Lee came home, physically unscathed, and finished college at Iowa State University,
with a degree in agricultural economics. He was immediately employed, managing the Sears Farm store.
Leaves for Salt Lake City
Adda (Mrs. William J.) Brandhorst left Sunday morning for Salt Lake City where she will join her daughter and son-in-law, Master Sergeant and Mrs. Lee Tipton, who are on furlough.
The three will visit in San Diego and Los Angeles. Mrs. Brandhorst plans an indefinite visit with her sister. Mrs. W.L. Roberts, there.
Carroll Daily Times Herald, November 18, 1942
Muscatine Journal and News Tribune Muscatine, March 3, 1942
Mr. and Mts. Roy Tipton have received word from their son, Corporal Lee
Tipton, who has been in the hospital at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, for past
two weeks that it will be necessary for him to remain there another two weeks
due to complications resulting from recent attacks of flu and measles. He is a
patient at Station Hospital, Ward 23, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.
Muscatine Journal and News Tribune, Muscatine, October 8, 1942
Lee Tipton has been prompted from Staff Sergeant to Technical Sergeant
at Kearns, Utah, where he is serving in the Army Air Force.
Muscatine Journal Muscatine, April 24, 1943
FINISHES COURSE
Lee Tipton has completed his officers training course at Miami
Beach, Florida, and has been commissioned with the rank of Second Lieutenant.
Lt. Tipton and his wife, following a visit here, left for Salt Lake City where
he was previously stationed. His sister, Mrs. Herbert Hendriks, came here from
her home in Texas to visit him and her parents.
Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune Muscatine, May 15, 1944
Lt. Tipton Is Head of Store in Pacific Area
The following censored approved story from the south Pacific Theater of
operations tells of the work being carried on by a Muscatine county soldier,
Lt. Lee G. Tipton: "The tropical island headquarters of the 13th AAF
boasts one of the finest post exchange stores to be found in the south Pacific.
The exchange even provides the services of a barber shop."
"As officer In charge of the AAF general store, First Lieut. Lee G.
Tipton, 109 East Sixth Street, West Liberty, has provided a varied stock of
over 175 items, ranging from candy and toilet articles to greeting cards. The
exchange serves an average of over 7,000 servicemen per week. For the same
reason it is practiced at home, rationing is a well-established practice in the
south Pacific. Limits are placed and the quantities individuals may purchase of
hard-to-get items, such as beer, cokes, razor blades, and the like.
Lieut. Tipton is a member of the Headquarters Squadron of
the 13th AAF Service Command and has served overseas for 18 months.
Muscatine Journal Muscatine, November 16, 1942
Sgt. Lee G. Tipton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Tipton of West Liberty, Iowa, has
been promoted from Technical Sergeant to First Sergeant.
Sgt. and Mrs. Tipton reside at 377 South Fifth Street, East, Salt Lake City.
Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune Muscatine, May 10, 1943
BACK TO SAME FIELD
Formerly a first sergeant at the Army Air Forces Technical Training
command at Kearns, Utah, Second Lieut. Lee G. Tipton of West Liberty has
returned to Kearns as a commissioned officer. Noting many changes at the
center, Tipton left the Kearns Training Camp in January to attend Officers Candidate
School at Miami Beach, Florida, holding the rank of
First Sergeant of a training group at that time.
Lieut. Tipton was a member of the original cadre, formed at Jefferson Barracks,
Missouri, which set up the training program there, and arrived as a staff
sergeant. Last September he became the group's first sergeant. He is now serving
as adjutant of a training wing.
Lieut. Tipton is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Tipton of West Liberty. He
attended the University of Iowa for a year and a half and Iowa State two years
before entering the service. He and Mrs. Tipton live in Salt Lake City.
Muscatine Journal and News Tribune Muscatine, November 5, 1943
LIEUT. UPTON OVERSEAS
Lt. Lee G. Tipton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy E. Tipton of West Liberty, has
arrived at a permanent base in a combat zone somewhere in the South Pacific. He
entered the Army in August 1941 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant at
Miami Beach, Florida, last April. Lieut. and Mrs. Tipton visited at West Liberty in June.
He began life on a farm with primitive conditions (no running water, electricity, or central heat) where they walked behind implements pulled by horses.
He and his sister, Luretta, were close companions and home schooled by their mother. They traveled by wagon to church services, potluck suppers and card parties. Life was tough for the Tiptons, but neighbors were poor, too. He learned hard work, reliance on family, and appreciation of animals and agriculture.
Although financially poor, his family ensured that both children graduated from college. At Iowa State University he met Margaret Brandhorst, formerly of Manning, Iowa. They were married for 67 years.
He joined the Army and then served in the Pacific Theater in World War II in the 13th Jungle Air Force. Despite grueling conditions, he learned to manage facilities and personnel. He was awarded eight major battle stars, including Guadalcanal.
After the war, he managed businesses in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines. In 1954, he accepted a job with a distributor in Denver. He progressed as a business manager, always with integrity and creative, long-term solutions.
He was a leader of Forward Metro Denver, a founder of Denver Regional Council of Governments, and a director of the Air Force Academy Quarterback Club. He received honors from the Homebuilders Association of Metro Denver and the Air Force Academy.
He and his wife enjoyed their church associations, with St. Paul's Methodist in Cedar Rapids and Grace United Methodist in Denver. They provided many services and formed strong bonds.
The couple took the kids on adventures to the Western U.S. and Canada, the Grand Canyon, the Colorado mountains, and Iowa. The family loved Colorado, but kept strong roots in Iowa. He expected the best from himself and his family; yet loved us all. He found the good in people and formed many deep friendships. His last words were love for his wife. He wrote to us, "Now as I live my last days I really ask that you remember only the good days and drive out of your minds the lesser days. We have many good memories together."
He is survived by wife, Margaret Tipton; children, Bob Tipton and wife, Cecilia, Julie Tipton, and Lynne Gieges and husband, Jim; grandchildren, Robin Proctor and husband, Rich, Jon Crowe and wife, Christy, Shelley Irish, and Alan Crowe; great-grandchildren Sarah Proctor, Thomas and Michael Crowe; brother-in-law, Herb Hendricks, Sr.; nephews, David Brandhorst, Dennis Brandhorst, and Herb Hendriks, Jr.; and many friends.
His legacy remains as a grand gentleman.