James Roy Tipton

James Roy Tipton of Maryville, Tennessee, born Saturday, May 24, 1924 in Fontana, North Carolina, passed away August 19, 2013 at the age of 89 at Parkwest Medical Center. He was the son of the late Rev. Jim F. Tipton and Mrs. Julia K. Messer Tipton. Born and grew up in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, along the shores of Little Tennessee River and Cheoah Lake, between Tapoco and Fontana, NC. He was known in the community, school, church and in his home, where he grew up as James Roy, that is what people still call him today that knew him back then. He attended school at Rymers Ferry, near the Santeetlah Powerhouse on the banks of Cheoah Lake, where his father worked. James professed religion at the age of 12 and was baptized in the Little Tennessee River, near where he was born at the site where Fontana Dam was built, and after he grew up that's where he got his first job as an employee of T.V.A. helping to build the dam. Some of his fond memories were that as a child growing up close to the river and lake, hunting, fishing, outdoor life. He recalled a conversation with his father while they were fishing from a small boat. His father told him about a large ship called the Titanic, a ship so big that people could ride bicycles on it. This was hard for him to believe. Art was his favorite in school and he loved to draw ships, not knowing he would ever see one or ever be on one. During World War II, he joined the United States Navy, and served aboard a destroyer escort which crossed the Atlantic Ocean four times, between the United States and Europe and North Africa, this was before Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944. On April 20, 1944 his ship the USS Fechteler came under heavy enemy air attack, five ships of the convoy that his ship was helping to escort, was torpedoed with the loss of over 600 lives. Less than two weeks later on May 5, 1944 his ship was torpedoed by a German submarine in the Mediterranean Sea, and sunk with the loss of 29 of his ship mates. James Roy was one the 26 that were wounded, he was among that last to be saved from the sinking ship. He was knocked out by the explosion of the torpedo. He recalled when he came to there was no one around him. He was wounded with several injuries, bleeding from the nose, mouth and ear. His back was hurting so bad that he could not stand up. It was night and just the moon light to see by, he thought he was the only one left on the ship. He tried to crawl to the side of the ship so he could get into the water and try to swim away. He managed to get from an upper deck to a lower deck, this is where he thought he was going to die, weak and hurting with water coming up around him, he started to pray, as a boy of 19 years old, he was afraid that death was near. All of a sudden a voice from Heaven said "Don't be afraid." Then the fear of death left him and as the water was about to cover him a shipmate called to him and said we are coming to get you. God must have sent those sailors back to rescue me, he stated. James Roy spent over a year in Navy Hospitals, with several operations on his back trying to recover from his wounds. While hospitalized he saw a lot of injured veterans suffering and dying. He made a promise, if God would let him live he would never forget them and he would always honor war veterans as long as he lived. After being discharged from the Navy he came to live here in Maryville, met a beautiful girl, Barbara Joyce Hancox who would become his wife. The happiest day of my life was when I married Barbara on December 11, 1946. She bore two wonderful children for me, Steve and Pamela. James Roy completed a commercial art course at Stair Tech School, Knoxville, TN completing training with outstanding grades. He operated his own sign business until retirement in 1985. Some of James Roy Tipton's accomplishments and honors include: his name is permanent in the United State Patent Office, Washington, D.C. in 1962 he was issued a U.S. patent for a sign devise that he invented; he is a charter and life member of The DAV, Disabled American Veterans, Chapter #76, that he helped to organize in 1955; in 1975 he became the State Commander of DAV Organization and was awarded Commander of the Month for five consecutive months by the National Commander, no one else has ever received that honor in Tennessee; in 1966 he organized the United Veterans of Blount County (Life Member); he organized the M.O.D.H. military order of the Purple Heart Sam Houston Chapter 1814, which he is a charger and a life member; he is a life member of the V.F.W. (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post #5154; a member of the American Legion Post #13 for 34 consecutive years; a life member of the National D.E.S.A. (Destroyer Escort Sailors Association); a member of the National Order of the Trench Rats, a branch of the DAV; an honorary life member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America; an honorary Tennessee Colonel; an honorary Kentucky Colonel; an honorary Alabama Colonel; of all his memberships, he is the most proud of being a member of the Broadway Baptist Church here in Maryville. He said without God nothing else matters on this earth. Down through the years his art work has been viewed by millions and his art will be viewed in the future. In 1964 he designed the Blount County War Dead Monument, which sets on the courthouse lawn here in continued... 1 2 Next ...continued Maryville. In 1980 he designed the Tennessee Civil War Monument which now sets on the famous Civil War Battlefield at Gettysburg, PA. James Roy said, "I would like to thank God for allowing me to be born, and giving me a wonderful life. Sometimes it seems as if God created everything for me. He put all those wonderful people on earth so I could live with my parents, brothers and sisters and all of my relatives, my wife and children and all of her relatives, those church and religious people who gave me faith to believe in God, all the people who served our country during war and gave their lives so we may have this precious freedom, my friendly neighbors and all the other great people that I met during my life span. I have tried to be honest, faithful and dedicated and if I succeeded in any of this I owe it all to God." James also said, "When the doctor told me I had cancer I prayed to God and I said why me? Then I tried to think of how many times down through the years that God did save my life, but I could not remember all of them. So I said God I am in your hands." I would like to dedicate my life to the one person that stood by me through all of our marriage life, who never laughed or made fun of my handicap, instead she gave me comfort and moral support. She was always there when I needed her. Barbara I love you. James was preceded in death by his Sisters- Elizabeth (Tipton) Rogers and Sally Tipton Brothers- Arthur Tipton, Ardell Tipton, Boyd Tipton, Luther Tipton, Joe Tipton, Prince Sluder and John Sluder. Survived By: Son & Daughter-in-law Stephen and Cindy Tipton of Maryville, Daughter and Son-in-law Pamela and Daniel Webber Jr. of Corryton, Grandchildren: Bill, Jim, April, Rebecca, Jason and Justin. He was also survived by 8 Great Grandchildren and 4 Great Great Grandchildren. In Memory of James Tipton donations can be made to Blount County War Dead Memorial Restoration Fund through The United Veterans of Blount County Service Office 865-273-5760 or The Military Order of Purple Heart through Sam Houston Chapter 1814 website: http://www.purpleheart.org/. Family & Friends received from 5pm-7pm with funeral service to follow Friday, August 23rd at Smith Trinity Chapel with Rev. Tony Collins and Gene Patton officiating. Family and friends will assemble for interment at Sherwood Memorial Gardens at 11am Saturday, August 24th. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithMaryville.com. Previous 1 2 To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of James Roy Tipton please visit our Sympathy Store.