Marion Ray Pippin Sr. | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Mr. Marion Ray Pippin, Sr., age 85, a resident of Washington, NC died Saturday December 16, 2023, at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville.

    Visitation will be held on Monday, December 18, 2023 from 6PM to 8PM at Paul Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 2PM, Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington.

    The service will be officiated by Ethan Coltrain, Lance Pippin and Johnny Pressley. A burial will follow in Pamlico Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Taylor Black, Wayne Black, Timmy Douglas, Logan Modlin, Jesse Respess and Keith Woolard. Honorary pallbearers will be Aaron Douglas, Austin Douglas, Phil Garris and Dal Latham.

    Big Ray was born in Beaufort County on February 22, 1938. He was the son of the late Willis Aubrey Pippin and the late Ruby Thomas Daniels. He attended Washington High School through the 11th grade and completed his high school education by passing his GED.

    Ray served his country in the Army National Guard and advanced to SP5. His service consisted from February 23, 1956 to February 24, 1959 at Fort Riley, Kansas Cooking School. Later he served February 24, 1959 to February 24, 1964 as an Artillery Expert Rifleman. He served twenty years on the board of the Selective Service System from August 29, 1982 to August 29, 2002.

    Big Ray was a mechanic, welder, farmer, bulk truck driver and a security guard before retiring in 2010. He worked at Barnes Tire Company, J.A. Hackney & Sons, Alligood Owens, Foxfire Farms, Tom Pope Farms, and Beaufort County Hospital. He was a member of Bunyan Ruritan Club, Charitable Brotherhood Lodge and was a Beaufort County Farm Bureau board member for over 50 years.

    Ray never knew a stranger. He loved to fish and cut up with anyone who would listen. He loved his family and was especially proud of them. You could find him on the river fishing, visiting his friends or at his grandsons' sporting events.

    Survivors include his children: Vivian Leigh Pippin Allen and her husband Mark of Winston-Salem, Marion Ray Pippin, Jr. and his wife Beth of Washington and Jeanea Luck Pippin Boyd and her husband Jamie of Pinetown; Grandchildren: Shawn, Lea, Tripp, Hayes, Nash, Braxton, Emma, Topper and Gage; brothers: Colby Pippin, Don Pippin and his wife Donna, Freddie Pippin and his wife Brenda; sisters-in-law: Josie Pippin, Linda Martin, Nelda Bowen and her husband Glenn, Melitta Bullock and her husband Ward, Lori Tetterton and her husband Mike; as well as many much loved nieces and nephews.

    Big Ray was preceded in death by his wife: Peggy W. Pippin; his parents: W.A. & Ruby Pippin; his in-laws: Ernel & Pearl Woolard; his brother: Gordon Pippin; his brother-in-law, Wayne Martin; a grandson: Tyler Allen, great nephews: Nathan Martin and Jonathon Phillips and a nephew: Donald Martin.

    Memorial contributions may be made to Boy Scout Troop 258, c/o Tammy Boyd, 929 Respess Road, Pinetown, NC 27865.

    Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Pippin family.