William Buchanan Kipe, “Buck”, 79, died peacefully at home surrounded by family on March 25, 2021 in Buda, Texas. He was born February 27, 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio, son of Harry William Buchanan Kipe and Virginia Adelle Rinker Kipe.
Buck graduated from Fairmont High School in Dayton in 1960. He attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana from 1960-1962 and was a proud member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Buck attended Washington State University from 1962-1965 in Pullman, Washington graduating in 1965 with a B.A. in Business and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1965. While in attendance at WSU, he was member of the Washington State University Track Team and Captain. A highlight of his track and field career with a 5th place at the 1964 Olympic Trials in the Javelin and still holds the indoor record.
He started his 35-year career with IBM after college where he met his surviving wife Linda Ann Lewis Kipe in Seattle, Washington. They celebrated 54 years of marriage in May of 2020. His successful sales and managerial career with IBM allowed him and his family to live throughout the country in eight different states with two overseas assignments. Buck had many interests and hobbies including sports officiating, collecting stamps and coins, golf, creating original oil paintings, traveling, but most importantly spending time with family.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded by his brother Robert Morgan Kipe and daughter Marquel Leah Kipe. Surviving in addition to his wife, Linda (Lewis) Kipe, are his daughters Marlo Malott of Buda; Marielle McCoy and her husband Garrett, of Buda; his sons Derek Kipe and his wife Jacki, of Austin; and Garet Kipe and his wife Shelley, of Frisco; 9 grandchildren Riley Malott, Hanna Malott, Austin Gilbert, Reagan Gilbert, Walker Gilbert, Caitlin McCoy, Lauren McCoy, Kolt Kipe, and Channing Kipe.
A graveside memorial service will take place on Saturday, April 17 at 2 p.m. at Wimberley Cemetery at 501 Old Kyle Road. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given in Buck’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at https://tribute.michaeljfox.org/tribute-page.php?id=1923&np=true. Arrangements are under the direction of Thomason Funeral Home. For more information and to sign the online registry, please visit thomasonfuneralhome.com.
