FIND AN OBITUARY
Service information is posted on our website only with approval from the family.
If you are seeking information not listed below, please contact us.
Lee Dennis Philipp
12/12/1935 — 01/13/2011
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Colby, Kansas
Lee Dennis Philipp
On Thursday, January 13, 2011 Lee Philipp passed away at Kadlec Medical Center.
Lee was born near Colby, Kansas on December 12, 1935 to Geneva and Carl Philipp. His family lived on a wheat farm until he was 14 when they moved to Boulder, Colorado. He lived in Boulder until he finished high school and joined the Air Force where he was stationed in Alaska. While in Alaska, it became the 49th state of the United States and he attended the celebration in Fairbanks.
It was in the Air Force that he found his calling of electronics and electrical engineering. Lee's last Air Force assignment was in Michigan where he met his wife, Sherry. After they were married, he decided to continue his education in Boulder where he received his Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering. After graduation, they moved to Richland, Washington, where he worked in the Hanford area for General Electric and Battelle Northwest.
During his tenure at Hanford, Lee earned his Masters Degree from the University of Washington. The family took a three-year sabbatical in Albuquerque while Lee completed his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the University of New Mexico. They then returned to Richland where Lee worked for Westinghouse and Battelle until 1981.
Lee then took a teaching position at WSU Tri-Cities where he developed the Electrical Engineering Program for the university and taught until his retirement in 2000. Teaching proved to be Lee's true passion, encouraging every student to excel. He remained a strong advocate for education long after his retirement.
Lee loved the outdoors. He and his family spent much of their free time boating on the Columbia River in the summer and snow skiing in winter. His favorite vacation spot was Priest Lake, Idaho where he enjoyed boating and camping on the islands for many years.
After retiring, he enjoyed biking, skiing and walking as well as researching the Civil War. He was able to take several trips to various places including a tour of Civil War battlefields with friends and annual trips to the Pacific Coast and the Priest Lake cabin with family.
Lee is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sherry Hait Philipp; sister Mary Pollart of Kingston, Rhode Island; daughters Barbara Philipp and Nancy Philipp, both of Richland; sons Paul Philipp, wife Janie Branch Philipp, granddaughters Jasmine and Brianna and grandson Brandon of Woodinville, WA; son John Philipp, wife Madonna Glines Philipp, grandsons Austin and Seaver and granddaughter Mallory of Ellensburg, WA. He was preceded in death by his parents, Geneva and Carl Philipp, sister Joyce Shanks and brother Charles Philipp.
A memorial mass will be held at Christ the King Church, 1111 Stevens Dr. in Richland, Saturday, January 22, at noon with military salute to follow at 3:00pm at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Richland.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be sent to WSU Tri-Cities to the Lee D. Philipp scholarship fund or to Christ the King Church.
Sherry, Barbara, Nancy, John & Paul,
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you today. I wish I could have been there for you, but mom, dad and Ann were there for you. I really have missed the switching of Thanksgiving and Christmas at our houses every year. That was one staple I always looked forward to and the opening of one gift on Christmas Eve. Spending vacation at Priest Lake was always fun. You could see in your Dad’s eyes how much he enjoyed the cabin!! I will miss his stories and laughter he always brought to our homes! Lee is at peace and with God now. The best place in the world! Love Monica
I’m sorry to hear of his passing. He was always a kind and friendly man. His quirky sense of humor will be missed.
It was my good fortune to have been a colleague of Lee at the JCGS and on through the years until my retirement from WSU-TC in 1999. We had many pleasant conversations over the years, and he was very supportive and helpful to me and to my program over the years. Lee was a man of great integrity and ability with a good sense of humor. Most of all, he epitomized what a teacher should be, for his overarching concern was for his students and their learning and progress. This fine man was a true educator who will be missed by many.
I was working at the University when Lee came to work there. Lee was one of the good ones you meet only once in a life time.
It was an honor to work with him.
Sorry of Lee’s passing.I always enjoyed seeing Lee. He was one of the few adults when I was about 5 years old who was genuinely interested in what I had to say. Lee is definitely on my list of most favorite people in my life. I will miss him.
I am very thankfull that I had Lee for a professor and advisor at WSU Richland. He was great, always there for me. He encouraged me every step of the way.
I am sorry to learn of Lee’s passing. He was a good friend and colleague. I first met Lee when we were office mates at GE Hanford. Later we were associated at the then Graduate center which became WSU at TriCities, where he was head of the EE department. Many Years of good association ensued. He was a good man who tried always to do the right thing. He will be missed in this life but will enjoy much happiness in the next. -Don B
Lee leaves behind an impressive educational legacy. Hundreds of electrical engineers have graduated from the program Lee developed and nurtured over many years at WSU Tri-Cities.
Guestbook for
Lee Dennis Philipp