Paul E. Tipton

Paul Tipton, 93, of Erlanger, KY passed away Saturday, September 25, 2021, at his home surrounded by those he loved. Paul leaves behind a legacy not only of service to his country and his community but also of the strong and loving family that he built with his wife of 70 years, Alvera.

Paul proudly served his country in the United States Army. He was a World War II veteran, serving with the 88th Division in Italy. While there he had an audience with Pope Pius XII who presented him with a cross. Paul framed the cross and it has been hanging on his and Alvera’s bedroom wall for many decades. 

Paul retired from Procter & Gamble in December of 1989 after 39 years of service. As part of the P&G family he often brought home test products before they hit the market. The stackable potato chips in a cylinder, later known as Pringles, were a big hit. On trips to the grocery, only P&G products were purchased. Whenever cakes or brownies were made at home he always asked if it was Duncan Hines.  In his early years at P&G he was involved with testing soap products. He would take dirty laundry from home to work for testing and used that same laundry bag as a golf bag for a golf outing with a soon to be son-in-law. 

Paul loved a bargain and never spent money needlessly. This may explain the laundry bag/golf bag. He could often be found at garage sales and auctions. He even bartered with the butcher on Saturdays to get a better deal on meats. When it came to haggling for cars, he was relentless. His household often had more cars than drivers. 

Paul raised four daughters and was very active in all their sports activities. In the mid-70s he worked with Ron Staurovsky to start organized soccer in Northern Kentucky. In 1978, he launched the soccer program at the all-girls Notre Dame Academy and became the team’s first coach. During the 1982 season Paul entered the team into the boy’s state tournament because there was no state tournament for girls. 

On May 11, 1982, the front page of the Kentucky Post ran the headline “Shot at the top: All-girl Pandas seek boys’ soccer title.” The team didn’t play in the tournament, forfeiting their game for safety reasons, but the team made their point. 

Paul was known to cause quite a ruckus at Notre Dame Academy volleyball and basketball games back in the 70s and 80s. After every score he would ring a cowbell. It may be that his antics caused the KHSAA to enact a rule about noise makers at high school games! Nevertheless, Paul was inducted into the Notre Dame Academy’s Hall of Fame (1990-91) for all his contributions.

Paul began his sports career in 1944 playing basketball for Ludlow High School. He played baseball for the Ludlow amateur team that won the NKY championship in 1946. He also coached girls’ volleyball at St. Agnes School and girls’ softball at Lookout Heights Civic Club. When he was a student at the University of Kentucky he even tried out for the UK Wildcats basketball team, making it through a couple of rounds before being cut. 

For all his sports accomplishments he was inducted into the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame in the Spring of 2021. In his last year, Paul was so proud to receive this honor and also celebrate two family weddings.  

He was a charter member of The Simon Kenton Chapter, Kentucky Society, Sons of the American Revolution, a member of the American Legion Post #464, St. Leon, Ind., and a member of the Honorable Order of the Kentucky Colonels and a member of the Park Hills Volunteer Fire Department.

Most of all Paul loved his family and spending time with them. He is survived by his wife, Alvera Tipton; daughters Paula (Don) Meihaus, Lisa Gillespie (Randy Tucker), son-in law John Gillespie, Kim (Walt) Worley, Tami (Tom) Eckerle; twelve grand-children, Stacie (Hal) Jankowski, Don (Sylvia Cubero) Meihaus, Jennie (Phillip) Goetz, Stephen (Hannah) Meihaus, Laura Gillespie, Kayla (Jeff) King, Joey Gillespie, Jacob Worley, Kaysie (Evan) Calhoun, Carlie Eckerle, Ryan Eckerle and Gracie Eckerle.  He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Luke and Nathan Jankowski, John Paul and Jackson Meihaus, Remi and Ada Goetz. The seventh is due in April. He was preceded in death by his parents, the Rev. Arthur T. and Addie Tipton.

Visitation will be 9:30-10:30 a.m. at St. Henry Catholic Church, 3813 Dixie Hwy, Elsmere, KY. The Simon Kenton Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution will present a military honor at 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial begins at 11 a.m.  

Memorial contributions can be sent to: Notre Dame Academy, 1699 Hilton Drive, Park Hills, KY 41011; Simon Kenton Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, c/o Harry Geimeier, Treasurer, 452 General Drive, Fort Wright, KY 41011; or St. Henry District High School, 3755 Scheben Drive, Erlanger, KY 41018.