James Frank Pippin

James Frank Pippin, age 80, of Houston, Texas passed away in his home on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. He was born in Wichita, Kansas on April 21,1943 to Kenneth Roscoe and Bessie Ethel Pippin. K. R. Pippin came home on a pass to see his new son while he was stationed in the Philippines during WWII. Jimmy acquired the skill of leatherworking in the fifth grade and he continued this skill to make beautiful items for friends and family.

As a child Jimmy liked using his Dad's hand drill. He liked the sound the drill made when it went into tires so much that he drilled holes into all the tires on his father's car making them all go flat.

Jimmy went to college at Pittsburg State College and received his B.S. degree in Manufacturing Engineering. He was very creative and solved problems and repairing anything that needed to be repaired. Jimmy worked for Dickey Clay in Pittsburg, KS. He developed and practiced his engineering skills. He was able to increase production by 35% while still in college.

Midway through college the US Army drafted Jimmy in 1966. He spent his service at Fort Richardson, Alaska as a Fixed Plant Carrier Repairman Specialist Fifth class.

After college Jimmy moved to Houston and was employed with Hughes Tool Company 24 years. He had 30 years experience programming CNC machines, tool design, drafting, QA inspection plant layout, electronics repair and prototype equipment design. He was a self starter and problem solver to innovate and improve results of products created. After Hughes Christianson, he went to work in machine shops where he programmed machines and inspected parts for the oil and gas industry, He operated 3 and 4 axis CNC mills, CNC lathe, manual lathes and mills, drill press and tool grinding. He made calculations to manufacture parts and solve problems. He prepared detailed manufacturing drawings of products to be created. He created and compiled reference manuals that helped all programmers. Jimmy designed and drafted ceramic cutting tools that reduced tooling costs by 80%.

Jimmy was the oldest of 3 sons, along with Joe (Debi) of Olathe, KS and Bob (Betty) of Benton KS.

He was known for his friendship with Harold Cooper and their love for cars.

Jimmy had the gift of making people laugh with the ordinary and mundane events of life. He took pride in his incredible 3 story model train layout that occupied an entire room. This was a work in progress extending well into retirement. Jimmy is survived by his loving spouse of 41 years Sandra Pippin. He was a wonderful father to Amy Griner, Elissa Lazor (Adam) and Aaron Kaufman (Marilynn) and grandfather to Alexis, Austin, Asher and Aria Kaufman.

Jimmy was known to friends and family as a kind and thoughtful man and always had a good attitude about life and people. He believed that everybody should learn to get along. He had an unforgettable laughter and a beautiful smile.