William Frederick Lipstreu

William "Bill" Frederick Lipstreu, 88, passed away Sunday, July 1, 2012. Graveside service: 10:30 a.m. Friday in Springtown Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at White's Funeral Home. Memorials: May be made in Bill's name to First United Methodist Church of Springtown, 109 W. Third St., Springtown, Texas 76082, or Boyd for the purchase of school supplies for needy children. William "Bill" Frederick Lipstreu was born Jan. 10, 1924, in Aubrey to Otis Arthur and Lula Adams Keen Lipstreu. He graduated from Aubrey school in 1940 and entered North Texas State Teachers College (now UNT). He left school in 1942 and entered the United States Air Force, graduating as a pilot and second lieutenant in June 1944 and began serving in Okinawa in June 1946 for 10 months flying transport flights. Bill married Lynelle "Nell" Baker in May 1947 and resided in Denton as he finished his college education with a master's degree. In 1949 he began teaching business subjects at Boyd High School. In 1953 he became principal and in 1956 became superintendent. He remained in Boyd until 1970. Bill moved to Springtown as a principal until his retirement in 1986 where Lipstreu Elementary in Springtown is named for him. He was a 50-plus-year member of the Boyd Masonic Lodge and a member of the Eureka Lodge in Springtown. Retirement was a great time for them at the Circle W RV Ranch in Rockport. Bill loved to fish, play golf, play cribbage and Texas hold 'em. He also volunteered at Live Oak Elementary School in Rockport. He was able to enjoy most of these until April 2012 when congestive heart failure weakened him and he returned home to Wise County. Bill loved Rockport and had many close friends at the Circle W. He was a perfect gentleman with a kind forgiving heart and was loved by many. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Nell; daughter, Mykel Blanchard; infant grandson, Eric Gromatzky; and his brother, Dr. Otis Keen Lipstreu, professor at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Survivors: Saughter, Sandy Brown and husband, Richard, of Boyd; grandsons, Donny Brown and his son, Luke both of Springtown, Barry Brown and wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Jaycee, all of Boyd; special friends, Ruth and C.L. Carlisle of Springtown; all former students; and good friends at Circle W in Rockport.White's Funeral HomeSpringtown, 817-220-7111