John Robert Hipps

Bob Hipps of Atlanta, Georgia, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, passed peacefully on December 5, 2025. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he was the son of the late Robert Lawrence Hipps, former Mayor of Loveland, Colorado, and Mary Thelma Jackson Hipps.

Bob grew up in Loveland, where he attended Loveland High School before graduating from Yale University in 1961. At Yale, he was a member of Timothy Dwight College, played on the basketball team, and belonged to Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and The Society of Book and Snake. He went on to earn his MBA in Finance from Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1963 and became a CPA in 1968.

After completing his education, Bob developed a distinguished career in corporate finance, serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for several public, diversified companies across Georgia, New York, and Connecticut. His work took him across the United States and abroad, where he valued the friendships and professional relationships he formed along the way.

Beyond his professional achievements, Bob was deeply committed to the arts. He served on the Board of Directors of the Atlanta College of Art, on the Finance Committee of the Woodruff Art Center, and as an Advisory Council member of SCAD-Atlanta. His dedication reflected his belief in the importance of arts education and his desire to support Georgia’s creative community, often alongside his wife.

Bob is survived by his beloved wife, Annette Cone-Skelton, an accomplished artist and founder of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia; his sons Robert and Matt; his stepson Jared Skelton; daughters-in-law Lauren, Sarah, and Hope; and nine cherished grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Lou Hipps Tye.

He often reflected that he had been blessed with a wonderful wife, sons who married very well, and inspiring grandchildren. In retirement, his greatest daily challenge was deciding which book to read—a testament to his lifelong love of learning. By his own words, he was a very fortunate man.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at a later date, with family and friends gathering to honor his memory.