ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, September 24, 1996 TAG: 9609240061
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
TYPE: NEWS OBIT
Michael Kipps, a retired Virginia Tech agronomy professor who spent most of his 95 years actively involved with his community, died Monday.
Two years ago, Kipps was recognized for 65 years of perfect attendance to Christiansburg-Blacksburg Rotary Club meetings. Kipps loved to attend meetings and hadn't missed one since he joined in 1930.
Eight years before he joined Rotary, Kipps was honored with the title of Master Mason, and went on to become a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Commandery. A member of Blacksburg Baptist Church, Kipps served as the church clerk, deacon, historian and Sunday school teacher, to name a few service roles.
A native of Montgomery County, Kipps grew up in the family home off Prices Fork Road, part of which is a log cabin that dates back to the late 1700s. Kipps Elementary School - named for his sisters, well-known school teachers Mae and Florence Kipps - sits on a small portion of the family farm.
Mike Kipps attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute, where he earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in agronomy by 1926. He did post-graduate work at Michigan State University, and returned to teach at Tech until he retired in 1967. The American Society of Agronomy gave Kipps his highest honor that same year, by electing him a Fellow.
A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Blacksburg Baptist Church. Burial will follow.
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Kipps.by CNB