Wiley Eugene Pipkin

Wiley Pipkin, "Le Navigataire Extraordinaire," aged 74, departed our physical world in the early hours of Thursday, October 6th, 2022 in Meridian, Mississippi.

Graveside services for Wiley Pipkin will be held on Veterans Day, November 11th, 2022 at 1:30pm Eastern Time at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church in Philadelphia, Tennessee, with Reverend Dr. J. David Tabor officiating accompanied by formal military funeral honors. Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Church cemetery with Kyker Funeral Home in Sweetwater, Tennessee in charge of arrangements. Friends, family, loved ones, and old acquaintances are invited to leave fond memories, amusing anecdotes, and heartfelt tributes at the online guestbook at www.wileypipkin.life which the family will share aloud with those in attendance at the celebration of life to be held at Pleasant Hill Church, following graveside services.

Wiley is survived by his wife Laura Pipkin, daughters Robin Pipkin Parker and Laura Burk, son Kenneth Wayne Pipkin, two sons-in-law Jesse Parker and Lonnie Burk, daughter-in-law Elicia Pipkin, grandchildren: Vincent Pipkin, Britney Pipkin, Skylar Pipkin, Kody Biggs, Jonathan Burk, Alexis Burk, Aniyah Burk, Jaydin Burk, granddaughter-in-law May Biggs, great-grandchildren: Weston Pipkin, Elaina Pipkin, Jennifer Biggs, Sapphire Biggs, Ona Biggs, Sailor Cabilao, and Myj Cabilao, and mother-in-law Ethel Maxine Elkins (nee Galyon).

He was preceded in death by his mother Ora Ruth Phelps (nee Callis), his father Kenneth Alvin Pipkin, his stepfather Jim Phelps, his brother Wayne Pipkin, his grandson Timothy Biggs, and his father-in-law Harry Milton Tracy.

Wiley dedicated a great portion of his life serving his nation and he believed that modern right-wing ideologies are an urgent threat to American democracy. As a measure of his devotion to the ideals of this country and in support of this belief, he was a long-time supporter of the ACLU. In memory of Wiley, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the American Civil Liberties Union.

His character and life accomplishments were larger than life itself and, as such, impossible to share succinctly. Suffice it to say, Wiley was profoundly decent and a do-right man. Further biographical information and remembrances are shared at www.wileypipkin.life. Borrowing the words of Nat King Cole, Wiley is unforgettable in every way. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.