Donald L Hipes

Donald (Don) L. Hipes, 83, died Thursday morning, January 18, 2018 at his home in Carmel, IN. He was born March 24, 1934 in Royal Center, IN to Josephine and Roy Hipes, and married Deborah Ann Krueger February 24, 1978.

Don graduated from Crawfordsville High School, where he earned 8 athletic letters and was the proud recipient of the Hybarger Award for outstanding athletes. Though his undergraduate education was interrupted by his service in the Armed Forces as a Sergeant in the US Army Infantry, Don received his BS from Butler (where he also lettered) and his MS from Purdue. His career in Education spanned 41 years, serving as Principal of various Indiana high schools, chiefly Lebanon and Noblesville, as well as State Supervisor of Correctional Education. After retirement at 62, he had fun with numerous part time positions—from kindergarten assistant to elementary school disciplinary coach to English and literature instructor for Indianapolis Schools and IUPUI. Don also volunteered for many years as bookseller, bear hugger, and Santa Claus at the bookstores, Cover to Cover Books, Noblesville and Treehouse Tales, Indianapolis that he and Debby built together. Don was a member of Rotary International in Lebanon and Noblesville, where he served as president of the chapter. He also belonged to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and volunteered in the church office.

Don was proud of growing up on his parents’ Crawfordsville farm, loyally followed the Chicago Cubs, enjoyed movies, books, travel and gazing at “his water” in Naples, Florida. He loved his wife Deb and their chocolate Havanese, Chapters. Don will be remembered for planting trees in their Stonewick neighborhood, enjoying irises and lilacs, telling funny stories, laughing at his own corny jokes, and a twinkling smile.

He is survived by his wife Debby, his sister-in-law, Becky Krueger Malenkos (Michael Ridenour), his nephews, JW Malenkos (Marissa), Justin Malenkos (Eugenia) of Carmel, and his nieces and nephew, Cindy Hipes Bennett (Don), Carrie Hipes Bearden (Jim), John Hipes (Karen), Jill Hipes, and Jeni Hipes Hall (Larry) of Georgia, as well as 11 great nieces and nephews of Carmel, Georgia and Florida. Don’s parents and brother, Darrell, preceded him in death.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Stephen Ministry or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Indiana. A Memorial service will be held June 2, 2018, 11am at Flanner Buchanan-Oaklawn Memorial Gardens (Conner Suite), 9700 Allisonville Road, with visitation beginning at 9:30am. Online condolences may be made at www.flannerbuchanan.com. The family thanks Transitions Hospice for attentive and gentle life-ending care.