John Wesley Tipper III

The Tribe of Principled Men lost one of its members September 15, 2024. John Wesley Tipper III passed away in his hometown of Florence Alabama at the age of 78.

Mr. Tipper was a husband, father, brother to many and a consistent agitator.

His life’s work began largely taking shape while a journalist at the Birmingham News. He proudly worked for voting rights in Mississippi, joined the Communist Party for a time, hitchhiked from Alabama to Eugene, Oregon on several occasions and danced with political militancy in the late sixties.

Around 1976 his focus turned to more karmically neutral pursuits which included landscaping and creating a beautiful life with Jaqueline Truitt of Town Creek Alabama. Together they raised their two children, Ariana Star and Rivers Truitt, instilling in them both a deep respect for our common humanity and the value of authenticity.

Mr. Tipper is survived by his wife and intellectual counterpart, Lou Ellen Watson Tipper; his brothers, Donald and Larry Tipper; daughter, Ariana Tipper; son, Rivers Tipper (Dacia); along with his grandchildren, Dax Benjamin Tipper and Shae Torres.

Three of Mr. Tipper’s five brothers preceded him in death; Durrell Tipper, Roger Lee Tipper and Arthur Tipper.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating time or money to your local library. Mr. Tipper was a voracious reader and seeker of truth and context.  His family hopes you will carry his legacy a little further by supporting the same in others.

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