Ralph R. Hipkins

SERVICES: 10:00 AM Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at the First Baptist Church with Dr. Johnny Funderburg, pastor, officiating.BURIAL: Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.BIOGRAPHY: Mr. Hipkins was born on Oct. 15, 1923 in Hobart, Oklahoma. He graduated from Retrop High School in Retrop, Oklahoma in 1942 and joined the U. S. Navy that same year. He served in the Aleutian Islands and the South Pacific on the USS Selfridge and the USS Wren. He was honorably discharged in 1946 as a chief petty officer. Mr. Hipkins married Kathleen Stowers on June 1, 1946 in Carter, Oklahoma. In 1969, he came to Pampa where he established and owned Pro Data Surveys. In 1984, he went into oil and gas production and became president of XET, Inc. and S & W Oil & Gas. He was a member of First Baptist Church, VFW, and American Legion.SURVIVORS: Wife: Kathleen Hipkins of the home; daughter: Janice Porter and husband Lee of Pampa; son: Dan W. Hipkins of Amarillo; brother: Jim Hipkins of Everman; 2 grandsons: Christopher Porter and wife Angela of Guymon, OK and Gavin Porter and wife Kelley of Pampa; 4 granddaughters: Heidi Marshall of Wheeler, Danielle Hipkins of Amarillo, Jai Jai Porter of Plano, and Haley Hipkins of Lubbock; 3 great grandchildren: Mariah Marshall of Wheeler, and Bradey Porter and Emiley Porter, both of Guymon, OK; a brother-in-law: Vernon Stowers and wife Betty of Pampa and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, D. W. and Letha Duncan Hipkins, and by a brother, Damon Hipkins.MEMORIALS: U. S. Navy Memorial Foundation, 701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 123, Washington, DC 20004-2608 or American Heart Association, 6605 W. Interstate 40, Suite A-6, Amarillo, TX 79106.