Richard "Dick" Gipson

Richard ‘Dick” Ralph Gipson, of Gahanna OH, passed away January 23, 2026. He was preceded in death by his parents Ralph Gipson and Hester Riley; sister, Ruth Hodgson; first wife, Marylu Gipson; daughter, Pamela Campbell; and granddaughter, Sarah Campbell. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jeanne Marie Barnes Gipson; son Richard Mark (Diana) Gipson; daughter, Julie Lynn (Rich) Yascavage; stepson, Stephen Scott (Jody) Pawel; step-daughters, Julie Lynne (John) Ritchie and Kelly Jeanne (Tim) Hawes; step-brother in law Jack (Diane) Barnes; five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Richard was born December 21, 1931 in Dayton, Ohio and graduated from Roosevelt High School. After high school he worked as an ambulance driver in Hoyne Funeral Home that opened an emergency ambulance service in the Dayton Police Department and Sheriff Office. He joined the US Coast Guard in 1951 and served on air and sea rescue, Gulf Coast and New Orleans, Galveston Free Port Texas, and Brownsville Texas, on three different ships. Richard attended US fleet sonar school in Key West Florida.

He joined the Dayton Police department and retired after ten years as a detective. He worked as director of safety and security at Standard Register for five years at Dayton Malther. He then worked as Director of Safety and Security at McCalls Printing Company. He then worked as a security officer at the Defense electronics supply center (DESC). When DESC closed he moved to Columbus, Ohio and worked at Defense Supply Center (DSC) for five years before retiring.

He was a member of Stonybrook UMC, Senior Center in Gahanna and Reynoldsburg. He volunteered at Mt Carmel East Hospital and the Cat Welfare.

Richard had a great sense of humor, and he believed in honesty, integrity, and became a policeman to help the people. He always had humorous stories about when he was in the coast guard, ambulance driver, and a Dayton Police Officer and Detective. Richard dedicated 44 years to law enforcement.

Richard enjoyed sports, especially baseball, sailing (he really loved his yellow sailboat), golf, bridge and his pets. Dick was a proud member of a championship baseball team in 1950, representing Inland Manufacturing in Dayton - an experience that sparked his lifelong love of baseball and all sports. He later coached Little League baseball and remained a devoted Cincinnati Reds fan throughout his life.

Richard will be remembered in a Celebration of Life on March 7, 2026, from 12pm until 3pm, at Schoedinger Northeast.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society and Cat Welfare Association.