Joyce Clarence Pipkin ¹⁸⁹

  General Notes:

Joyce played professional football for the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Dons. Joyce was also a member of the original UDT (Underwater Demolition Team) Frogman during World War II. Today they are known as Navy Seals. Joyce was chief of crew #4 at the age of 19 and has a bronze star for something he never discusses. He also has a commendation medal given to him by President Lyndon Johnson for his negotiations with the Mexican government. Joyce is also a multi-talented musician, playing guitar, fiddle, piano and others.

Joyce was a plant manager at Reynolds, Aluminum in Malvern, Arkansas. He retired from Reynolds at their home offices in Richmond as Director of Operations, Can Division. Shortly, thereafter, while President of his own corporation (Arkansas Industrial Management, Inc.), he became Vice President of Pimalco, an aluminum company in Arizona, which was later successfully sold to Alcoa. His areas of expertise include Labor Relations, Human Resources and Industrial Operations. He is still consulting for Alcoa (1999).

OBITUARY: Joyce Clarence Pipkin

Joyce C. Pipkin, 93, passed away peacefully at his home in Bethlehem, PA on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, with his wife of 40 years, Carol Patton, by his side.

Joyce's life was marked by athletic, military and professional achievement, and love of music. But his most notable quality, as his wide circle of family and friends knew, was the warmth, generosity and magnetism of his personality.

Born in Lono, Arkansas, Joyce was the son of Clarence and Myrtle Stiles Pipkin. A star athlete, Joyce was in the midst of his time as a standout football player at the University of Arkansas when World War II began. He left college to serve in the Navy in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater on a Special Forces Underwater Demolition Team of "Frogmen" that was a precursor to today's Navy Seals. He became the crew chief at age 19, leading his team on high risk missions in the war effort, and earning two bronze stars.

After the war, Joyce finished his college degree, and went on to play professional football with the NY Giants and the Los Angeles Dons. At the time of his death, he was one of the oldest surviving former players of the NFL.

Joyce had a long and successful business career, becoming Director of Operations for Reynolds Aluminum. After 32 years at Reynolds, he retired and went in search of further challenges, including consulting work at Pimalco (Pima Aluminum Company) and Alcoa, playing key roles in resolving labor disputes.

Throughout his life, and especially after his retirement at age 75, Joyce's happiest times were filled with his friends and family. A talented self-taught musician, he spent many happy hours playing guitar, fiddle and keyboard, and especially enjoyed playing country music with his friends. Joyce took an interest in everyone he encountered; he truly "never met a stranger."

In addition to his wife, Joyce is survived by his four children and four stepchildren, Patsy Supak, Danny Pipkin, Ramona Crippen, Julie Klosterman, Kenneth Patton, Christopher Patton, Jeffrey Patton, and Jennifer Patton. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brothers Don and Quentin, and his beloved granddaughter, Yvette Mazboudi.

A memorial service for family and friends will be held at Regency Funeral Home in Malvern, AR on Saturday, May 13, at 2:00 PM. Interment will follow at Lono Cemetery in Lono.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joyce's memory may be made to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org) or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org), or the Navy Seal Foundation.

Arrangements are by Regency Funeral Home. You may sign the guestbook at regencyfuneralhome.com.

To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.

Published: Malvern Daily Record (11 May 2017) ⁴⁷²

  Life Events:

1. Occupation: VP of Pimalco Aluminum in Arizona. ¹⁸⁹

2. College-Bachelors: University of Arkansas: Fayetteville, Washington, Arkansas, USA. ¹⁸⁹

3. Church Affiliation: Baptist. ¹⁸⁹

4. Military: US Navy (World War II). He left college to serve in the Navy in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater on a Special Forces Underwater Demolition Team of "Frogmen" that was a precursor to today's Navy Seals.

5. Occupation: Reynolds Aluminum (Director of Operations): Malvern, Hot Spring, Arkansas, USA.

Joyce married Marjorie Elizabeth "Marg" Bird. (Marjorie Elizabeth "Marg" Bird was born on 12 Jan 1924,⁴⁴⁵ died on 28 Oct 1961 in Hot Springs, Garland, Arkansas, USA ⁴⁴⁵ and was buried in Lono Cemetery (Lono, Hot Spring, Arkansas, USA).)

Joyce next had a relationship with.

Joyce next married Laura Jane Morris.

Joyce next married Connie Payne.

Joyce next married Carol M. Patton in 1977. (Carol M. Patton was born in Maine, USA ⁴⁷².)