John T Whipple

John T (sometimes Tillman or Tillmon, but really just T) Whipple was born John T Kemp on November 14, 1937 to Pauline Hicks and Ray Kemp in Danville, GA. He was raised outside of Toomsboro, GA by Leila (Kemp) Whipple and Robert Whipple Sr. John was never a large man, but everyone who met him found him larger than life. During his young life, John would travel from Georgia to Miami to Detroit and after meeting up with his biological mother, Pauline, in Sanford, FL, he would settle in Rochester for a time.

John was drafted into the US Army in 1963. After doing basic training in Kentucky, he was put on a ship to Germany. Over the course of his 11-year military career, John lived all over the US and served two tours in Vietnam. After leaving the military in 1974, John stayed in Missouri for the next 22 years.

He was a traveler but refused to fly or take a boat. He would drive, take a bus or a train to visit family. John was the proud father of six children and loved his uncle status to both born and chosen family nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his beloved grandmother, Mattie Kemp; all four of his parents; siblings, Robert Whipple Jr., Delores Edwards, David Charles Wingate Jr.; former wives, Dorothy Whipple and Patricia (Livingston) King; two daughters, Ilka Erica McCarthan and Cynthia Rochelle Whipple.

John leaves to cherish his memories two daughters, Diana Lynn Whipple of Rochester, NY and Conswelia Marie (Livingston-Whipple) McCourt of Blue Springs, MO; two sons, John Whipple Jr of Iowa and Dwayne Whipple of Connecticut; son-in-law, Robert McCourt; siblings, Queen Bing of Savannah, GA, Arthur "A.W." Carswell of Miami, FL, Cliffer (Dorothy) Wingate of Rochester, NY, Diane Webb of Atlanta, GA, and Antwan (Ruby) Dickerson.

Over the last few years John spent time getting to know his nineteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren he leaves behind. Grandchildren: Johnny "Sputnik" (Adria) Monroe, Damien (Ishmeak) McCarthan, Quenten McCarthan, John Whipple III, Jordan Whipple, Ashontwonique Slater, Quintin Slater, Jessica Slater, John Slater, Destiny Whipple, Precious Harris, Faezhon Harris, Tazhon Harris, Michael McCarthan, Zhiana Whipple, Xander McCourt, Anastasia McCourt, Chancellor Hemmings, and Isla Whipple.

He leaves a host of nieces and nephews too numerous to list individually. Those particularly close to him were the nieces and nephews of the Bing, Logan, Webb, Wingate, Edwards, and Little families.

No services have been scheduled at this time. Cremation arranged in the care of Valor-Brown Funeral Services, Grain Valley, MO. John and Conswelia discussed arrangements prior to his death. As she did many a time, Conswelia will take John on tour and arrange Celebration of Life events in Missouri, Rochester, Philadelphia, and Georgia. In lieu of flowers, please send stories and photos of John to johnphotos@conswelia.com.