OBIT: Francis Henry SIPE, 1993, native of Somerset County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Meyersdale Library Transcribed and by Sally Statler/April Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ _______________________________________________ SIPE Francis Henry Sipe, 90, Elkins, W.Va., died Sept. 17, 1993, at his home, 1404 Harrison Ave., Elkins. Born in Somerset July 10, 1903, a son of late Lawrence and Alice (Cook) Sipe. He graduated in 1920 from Somerset High School and attended Albright College on athletic scholarship. In 1921 received scholarship to Pennsylvania State School of Forestry at Mont Alto. Graduated in 1925 and was assistant state forester at Renovo. In 1927 he took a job as district state forester at New Bern, N.C., and stayed until the summer of 1928. Got a master's degree at Yale University in 1929. In 1929 in Renovo, Pa., he met and married the "love of his life", Catharine M. Weeks. Became federal junior forester on Old Natural Bridge National Forest at Buena Vista, Va. After Buena Vista, he held various positions with the U.S. Forest Service. In 1953 he became assistant forest supervisor on Monongahela National Forest at Elkins. Retired from this position Jan. 5, 1962. After retirement, he began his second career, land surveying in West Virginia. At that time, no license was required for the profession. Found boundary situation in poor condition and decided to do something about it. He organized a State Association of Land Surveyors, lobbied for a state law requiring land surveyors to be licensed and became the first surveyor in West Virginia to receive a land surveyors license under new law. He was appointed to the licensing board and upgraded the practice of land surveying throughout the state. He wrote 3 books on land surveying and developed a new open-sight surveyors' compass and accessories. In 1979 he received the top surveying excellence award by the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping. He received many additional surveying awards in West Virginia, including twice being named Surveyor of the Year. Most recently he served as country [sic] surveyor of Randolph County. Beside his interest in land surveying, he was active in Isaac Walton League, Barbershop Quartet, Symphonic Choir and Association of Land Surveyors. Was an elder in Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church and a member of the choir. His solos were enjoyed by all, particularly the one he sang in July, celebrating 90th birthday. His wife, Catherine, preceded him in death Feb. 2, 1985. Survived by his children: Kenneth Bradley and wife, Dee; Betty Gerber and husband, Don, and four grandchildren: Betty Bradley, Anne Rawson, Stephen Gerber and Cathy Gerber; two brothers: Alan Smith and Carl Sipe, and host of friends. Preceded in death by one sister, Dorothy Sipe. Friends received at the John W. Lohr-Barb-Vance Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. today. On Wednesday morning, body will be moved to the Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church, where friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m., the funeral hour. The Rev. Dr. Charles Logan Landrum Jr. will officiate. Entombment at Maplewood Memorial Mausoleum, Elkins. Contributions may be sent to Henry Sipe Music Fund in care of the Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church, 405 Randolph Ave., Elkins, W.Va., 26241. The John W. Lohr-Barb-Vance Funeral Home has charge of arrangements. Daily American, September 21, 1993 [S1810 and S1811]