Gregory Dwight Pippin

Greg Pippin, longtime resident of Colleyville, Texas passed unexpectedly on March 20, 2024, at 12:20 PM, just shy of his 70th birthday. A loving father, uncle and brother, doting grandfather and adoring husband, Greg was also a retired Strategic Air Command Officer in the United States Air Force, an entrepreneur, and passionate caretaker of a family cattle ranch.

Born on Hunter Air Force base in Savannah Georgia, Greg was the third of five children born to Elmer and Florence Pippin. The family moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1958. As a child, he was a clever prankster, frequently causing mischief with his brother Bill, much to the chagrin of their mother and sisters. He found an outlet for his relentless energy in playing the drums in orchestra and joining the JROTC at John Jay High School in San Antonio. He then studied Biology at the University of North Texas and was a cadet in the ROTC, graduating in 1976. He met his wife, Paula (Hall) in 1974 while working in the Texas Women’s University cafeteria. They married August 13, 1977, just as he joined the USAF. Greg served four years at McConnell Air Force Base near Wichita, Kansas, earning an Expert Marksmanship Ribbon before retiring as a Captain in the Strategic Air Command where he also served on the Standard/Evaluation Board. During this time, he completed two master’s degree from Webster University. One in Business Administration, and another in Business Analytics. Eight years later they welcomed their daughter Kelly and built their lives in Colleyville.

A successful salesman, Greg spent most of his professional career selling medical devices, from surgical equipment to launching his own businesses. He started nine new companies. One of his favorites was the three locations of West Lake Hearing and Balance in Austin. He was able to spend the week seeing his mom in San Antonio where they enjoyed dinners out and movies together. Intelligent, quick-witted, independent, and driven, Greg excelled in business and imparted his unwavering work ethic in his daughter, whose accomplishments he took great pride in.

Greg was an avid gun collector and enjoyed continuing to develop his marksmanship skills with regular practice. He was a dog lover, took pride in well-maintained cars, and had a tendency to mow his yard multiple days per week. Beyond lawn maintenance, his military precision could also be observed in his fastidious adherence to schedules, tidiness, and driving habits that could best be described as “fear-inducing.” Years ago, Greg became the primary caretaker of family property, where he loved working the cattle, maintaining the property, shooting wild boar, and enjoying the wide-open space with Paula and friends. He received an Outstanding Absentee Conservation Rancher award and was also part of the Palo Pinto Soil and Water Conservation District.

Despite all his personal success and accomplishments, Greg’s greatest joy was his role as grandfather. He absolutely adored his grandson, Cole, teaching him letters, numbers, and an extensive vocabulary. They shared a love for airplanes, cars, tractors, and most recently monster trucks. He wanted to help Cole obtain his pilot’s license at 17.

Greg is survived by his wife, Paula, daughter Kelly Clark and husband Will Clark, siblings Rita Brown, Bill Pippin, Cerise Rieper and Vickie Massam, and grandson Cole Clark. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. He will be remembered as a dedicated and loving husband, protective father, doting grandfather, loyal friend, and lighthearted troublemaker to all who knew him.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Florence Pippin and in-laws, Lucille, and Kenneth Walker.

Services will be held at J.E. Foust & Son Funeral Home in Grapevine, Texas on April 3, 2024, followed by the committal service scheduled with the DFW National Cemetery. Donations may be made in Greg’s name to Wounded Warrior Project or the Patriot Guard Riders.