John Wilson Lipscomb

John Wilson "Jack" Lipscomb Sr., 91, was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Known as "Da" to his family, he passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2009, at Silverado Senior Living, Houston. He worked for many years as an engineer for the Louisiana Office of Highways. He was born in Lafayette on March 4, 1918, to James Irwin Lipscomb and Marie Lauve Lipscomb. A 1936 graduate of University High School in Baton Rouge, he received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from LSU in 1941 and in mechanical engineering from LSU in 1955. He married Virginia Powers on April 9, 1942, and enjoyed 65 years of marriage until her passing in 2007. Jack was a lifelong member of First Methodist Church. Jack was a brilliant musician, researcher and inventor with a United States patent on a Method and Apparatus for Seismic Prospecting. He contributed to the United States World War II effort by conducting government research on the ionosphere. He was in the LSU Tiger Band and symphony while in college and played numerous instruments. He hand-made his own perfectly tuned Caribbean steel drums. His steel drum band, "Captain Jack and the Pearls," brought much joy and many smiles to events all over Baton Rouge. He also wrote, co-wrote and recorded songs in his home studio for many local artists. He loved helping people in any way he could. He is survived by daughter, Virginia Kay Wulf and husband David, Houston; three sons, John W. Lipscomb, Jr. and wife Barbara, Hattiesburg, Miss., James Gordon Lipscomb and wife Da'Anne, Zachary, and Richard Lauve Lipscomb and wife Debra, Walnut Grove, N.C.; grandchildren, Stacy Carmel, David Lipscomb, Jane Barney, Tara Todtenbiery, Helen Paige Carabole, Gordon Lipscomb, Jaime Knight, Natalie Lipscomb and Ben, Adam and Sarah Wulf; great-grandchildren, Blake and Cameron Barney, Bailey Todtenbiery, Ty and Jake Lipscomb, Kyle and Georgia Knight and Cailyn Wulf; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Powers Lipscomb; and two sons, Charles Roy and Glen Harvell Lipscomb. Visiting at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Thursday, July 2, was from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visiting resumes at the funeral home chapel on Friday from 8:30 a.m. until religious service at 10 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Dr. J. Phillip Woodland, of University United Methodist Church. Interment in Roselawn Memorial Park, with Gordon and David Lipscomb, Ben and Adam Wulf, Andy Carmel, Scott and Blake Barney and Adam Knight serving as pallbearers.