THAYER — Tommy Allen Stipp, 72, of Thayer died Thursday, May 20, 2010, at his home.

He was born in rural Urbana on Jan. 19, 1938, to Virgil and Dottie Crystal (Moses) Stipp. He graduated from Thayer High School.

He served in the U.S. Army.

Mr. Stipp was a school bus driver and earned several awards for years of service.

He was divorced.

He was a member of the National Rifle Association, Masonic Lodge No. 149, Chetopa Creek Gun Club and the Kansas Rifle Association.

Mr. Stipp enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, reading western books and his antiques, a John Deere tractor, Ford vehicles and Winchester firearms.

He is survived by four sons, Jack Stipp, Jim Stipp and Jerry Stipp, all of Thayer, and John Stipp of Nixa, Mo.; 10 grandchildren, Zachery Stipp, Cody Stipp, Chelsea Shwartz, Samantha Stipp, Scott Stipp, Dylan Stipp, Bradley Powell Stipp, Mason Stipp, Mariah Stipp and Ashley Stipp; two great-grandchildren, Nelson Allen Stipp and Adyn James Stipp; a brother, Dean Stipp; and a sister, Carrie Shay.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two grandchildren, Heidi Leanne Stipp and Shawn Micheal Stipp; seven brothers, Chester Stipp, Wayne Stipp, Delmar Stipp, Dale Stipp, Robert Stipp, Cecil Stipp and Kenneth Stipp; and four sisters, Ellen Stipp, Iola Milner Phillips, Thelma Stipp Clemens and Mabel Stipp Gilmore.

The service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Thayer Christian Church with the Rev. Jim Pelley officiating. Burial will follow in Thayer Cemetery. Military honors will be presented by the Chanute Honor Guard, and Masonic services will be performed by Masonic Lodge No. 149.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Penwell-Gabel Gibson Chapel in Chanute.

Memorials in his name may be made to Jerry Stipp for the Tommy Allen Stipp Memorial Fund and may be left with the funeral home.

Online condolences may be left at www.PenwellGabelChanute.com.