March 27, 1926 – July 30, 2016
Ernestine Hipp, 90, of Sweet Home died July 30, 2016.
She was born March 27, 1926 in Holley, the daughter of Earnest and Vina (Matlock) Malone.
She attended Holley Christian Church since birth and was baptized by Harry Benton in the Calapooia River on June 14, 1946.
She attended Greenville Grade School and graduated from Sweet Home Union High School in 1944.
She worked for Swamp Mountain Logging Company and Santiam Logging Company in the office from 1944 to 1952. She was proud to be licensed as Sweet Home’s first lady pilot on Feb. 20, 1946.
She married Erick C. Hipp on March 28, 1948 at the Holley Christian Church. They raised three children together.
Mrs. Hipp was a 4-H leader for 11 years in livestock, sewing, cooking, and canning. She was the secretary-treasurer for Union Cemetery Association of Crawfordsville since 1987 and Finley Pioneer Cemetery since 1995. She had been elected as a director since 1979 and retired due to health reasons on May 4, 2013.
She was a member of American Legion since 1968. After her husband’s death she worked for optometrists Dr. Buhn, Dr. Rickman, and Dr. Kyle. She enjoyed working for the church until arthritis slowed her down.
Mrs. Hipp traveled with her children and grandchildren, going to Disneyland three times, on an Alaskan cruise and traveling to Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates, where she rode a camel and dune bashed. She took a trip to London, went white water rafting, enjoyed a jet ski trip on the Columbia, and several trips to the coast.
Mrs. Hipp enjoyed and loved her family as well as friends, and the companionship of her little pugs, Millie and Angel. She enjoyed sewing and gardening.
Mrs. Hipp was survived by two daughters: Robin (Hipp) Dada and Ronda Hipp; sister Wanda Church; and four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Erick C. Hipp; son Kevin C. Hipp; and siblings Thomas, James, Leslie, Francis and Thelma.
A graveside service is planned for 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5, at Union Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. Friday at Holley Christian Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in Mrs. Hipp’s name be made to the Meals On Wheels program.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.