Edward Knipper

Edward J. Knipper April 17, 1923 - May 21, 2013 Edward J. Knipper passed away in Waco, Texas, surrounded by his family, on May 21, 2013. Services will be at 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 24, at First Baptist Church Waco with the Dr. Matthew Snowden and Rev. Randall Perry officiating. Mr. Knipper will lie in state at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Ed was born in Bloomfield, New Jersey on April 17, 1923 and moved to New York City in 1938. He graduated from George Washington High School in January, 1940. He worked for a year and a half at Time, Inc. in the mail room. He enrolled as a freshman at Baylor University in Waco in September 1941. In December 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program. He completed Pilot Training as a B-29 Heavy Bomber Pilot. He was part of the 20th Air Force, 499th Bomb Group, 477th Squadron. Ed flew combat missions to Japan from bases in Guam and Saipan. Upon cessation of hostilities, he helped air drop food, clothing and medical supplies to Allied Prisoner of War Camps in Japan. He was the Recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with clusters. Ed separated from service in January, 1946 and returned to Baylor to complete his degree, upon completion of which he taught German at Baylor and commenced work on a Master's Degree. In August of 1949, he married Mary Blanche Hooker Baylor '48 and they served as directors of Kokernot Hall. They have two sons, Jeff and Joe. Upon completion of his Master's Degree in 1951 he began a 41 year secondary teaching career in the Waco ISD. His assignments included stints at West Junior High, Old Waco High and Richfield High. His principal teaching assignments were in Chemistry, Physics and German. For some 15 years while at Richfield High, he would lead his German students on summer study programs throughout Europe. In addition to his teaching duties he also served as an athletic coach at both high schools assistant in football and head baseball. He retired from the Waco ISD in 1985 and accepted a similar teaching position at Vanguard College Preparatory School, where he stayed until his retirement in 1992. For over a decade, each summer, he served as a counselor and horseback riding instructor at Camp Stewart and Camp Rio Vista in the Texas Hill Country. He was the recipient of the first Waco ISD Outstanding Teacher Award and the recipient of the first Waco Education Foundation Distinguished Retired Teacher Award. He is one of 14 charter members who founded the Waco Calligraphy Guild in 1998. Since that time he has become an accomplished calligrapher, having attended numerous workshops conducted by internationally recognized calligraphers. Besides calligraphy, his varied interests included gardening, horsemanship, and Baylor athletics of every type. He and Mary were a regular presence at the Ferrell Center and the Baylor ballpark. After his retirement, Ed and Mary enjoyed traveling extensively throughout the world. For more than 50 years he has been a member of First Baptist Church's Abner McCall Sunday School Class. In whatever capacity you knew Ed, he touched the lives of thousands of people in a positive way. He was not a perfectionist, but he was a person of excellence and pursued all his endeavors with passion and purpose. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Knipper; his sons, Jeff Knipper and wife, Emily McLaughlin, Fort Worth; and Joe Knipper and wife, Eileen, Waco. Pallbearers are Ronnie Klatt, Jimmy Smith, Louis Fadal, Trigger Firmin, Maurice Robert, Jimmy Alexander, Joe Berg and Mike Adams. Honorary pallbearers are David Ivy, Greg Ogden, Henry Willbern, Stanley Howard, Norm Goldberg and Joe Flowers. If desired, memorial donations may be directed to the Baylor Bear Foundation Scholarship Fund and the First Baptist Church Foundation. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.