Extraordinary Man

Country, emotional, guitar, male voice, deep

In Loving Memory of an Extraordinary Man
Ward Franklin “Frank” Phipps
DOB: 10/22/33 | DOD: 08/30/26
To the world, he was a dedicated worker, a proud veteran, and a master craftsman. But to us, he was simply the center of our universe—the best Dad and Grandparent in the entire world.
For 92 years—nearly reaching a remarkable 93—he lived a life defined by honor, resilience, and an unwavering devotion to his family. Born and raised in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, he later made his home in Tulsa, where he would live for the majority of his life. He discovered his incredible work ethic early, starting his first paper route at just 12 years old. He always shared his secret to longevity, reminding us to never "sweat the small stuff." That peaceful outlook was truly how he lived such a long, beautiful life.
He loved working and staying active his entire life. His strength and determination were unmatched; he was still driving and dedicatedly exercising twice a day up until just three weeks before his passing.
He proudly served his country in the United States Army for two years and dedicated many more years of service to the Seabees. With that same dedication, he spent 28 years at the Post Office, starting as a mechanic and rightfully working his way up to Supervisor. He was a man of immense intelligence right up until his very last days, a true handyman who possessed the rare talent to fix absolutely anything. He truly loved spending his time in his garage, which served as his ultimate workshop, where he found immense joy in repairing, fixing, and building things.
Growing up in a big, loving family, he was one of seven siblings. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents and all of his brothers and sisters, standing as the final, enduring pillar of that generation.
For 65 beautiful years, he stood alongside our mother in a marriage that set the ultimate example of love and commitment, creating a sanctuary of warmth in the same well-maintained family home for half a century. Within those walls, he raised his two girls, loving them both with absolute equality and fiercely refusing to ever choose one over the other. His legacy of love grew even greater through his four grandsons and two great-grandsons, all of whom he loved dearly.
He was a kind, loving man who disliked conflict and cherished harmony above all else. He rarely raised his voice and never spoke a single bad word about anyone, walking through this life with a calm, gentle grace that anchored us all. More than anything in this world, his deepest wish was for his whole family to always get along. His happiest moments were spent in the quiet comfort of reading a good book, watching OU football with his daughter Debbie (“Deb”), and being surrounded by his family, who were truly his entire world.
When he retired, he poured his love into building beautiful oak furniture for the family—strong, timeless pieces crafted by his own hands that will endure for generations, much like the legacy he leaves behind in our hearts.
Words can never truly express how much this wonderful man meant to us. Our hearts are heavy with the weight of missing him, but we find profound comfort knowing that he is finally at peace. Go rest high, Dad. We know you are in Heaven watching over us now, forever our guardian angel. You were our rock, and your love will guide us for the rest of our days.

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In Loving Memory of an Extraordinary Man Ward Franklin “Frank” Phipps DOB: 10/22/33 | DOD: 08/30/26 To the world, he was a dedicated worker, a proud veteran, and a master craftsman. But to us, he was simply the center of our universe—the best Dad and Grandparent in the entire world. For 92 years—nearly reaching a remarkable 93—he lived a life defined by honor, resilience, and an unwavering devotion to his family. Born and raised in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, he later made his home in Tulsa, where he would live for the majority of his life. He discovered his incredible work ethic early, starting his first paper route at just 12 years old. He always shared his secret to longevity, reminding us to never "sweat the small stuff." That peaceful outlook was truly how he lived such a long, beautiful life. He loved working and staying active his entire life. His strength and determination were unmatched; he was still driving and dedicatedly exercising twice a day up until just three weeks before his passing. He proudly served his country in the United States Army for two years and dedicated many more years of service to the Seabees. With that same dedication, he spent 28 years at the Post Office, starting as a mechanic and rightfully working his way up to Supervisor. He was a man of immense intelligence right up until his very last days, a true handyman who possessed the rare talent to fix absolutely anything. He truly loved spending his time in his garage, which served as his ultimate workshop, where he found immense joy in repairing, fixing, and building things. Growing up in a big, loving family, he was one of seven siblings. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents and all of his brothers and sisters, standing as the final, enduring pillar of that generation. For 65 beautiful years, he stood alongside our mother in a marriage that set the ultimate example of love and commitment, creating a sanctuary of warmth in the same well-maintained family home for half a century. Within those walls, he raised his two girls, loving them both with absolute equality and fiercely refusing to ever choose one over the other. His legacy of love grew even greater through his four grandsons and two great-grandsons, all of whom he loved dearly. He was a kind, loving man who disliked conflict and cherished harmony above all else. He rarely raised his voice and never spoke a single bad word about anyone, walking through this life with a calm, gentle grace that anchored us all. More than anything in this world, his deepest wish was for his whole family to always get along. His happiest moments were spent in the quiet comfort of reading a good book, watching OU football with his daughter Debbie (“Deb”), and being surrounded by his family, who were truly his entire world. When he retired, he poured his love into building beautiful oak furniture for the family—strong, timeless pieces crafted by his own hands that will endure for generations, much like the legacy he leaves behind in our hearts. Words can never truly express how much this wonderful man meant to us. Our hearts are heavy with the weight of missing him, but we find profound comfort knowing that he is finally at peace. Go rest high, Dad. We know you are in Heaven watching over us now, forever our guardian angel. You were our rock, and your love will guide us for the rest of our days.

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