Tipton Family Association of America Reunion Aug 16th & 17th 1996

Another old VHS video, this one of the Tipton Family Association of America held at the Tipton-Haynes Historic Site in Johnson City, Tennessee April 16th and 17th, 1996.

I really have to take time to figure out how to edit my raw old VHS videos. Maybe that will be one of my New Year's resolutions. But until that time, I'm going to post this raw, unedited version of videos that I took when I attended a TFAA (Tipton Family Association of America) reunion at Johnson City, Tennessee. 

I drove down with my nephew Isaac "Ike" Tipton III, the son of my brother Isaac, who did not attend. Brother Isaac never attends my reunions, it's his thing. However, we did meet my other brother John and his wife Barbara at the reunion. They drove up from their home in Greenville, South Carolina. 

There are some long stretches on this video that are undoubtedly boring to most of you, but I thought the little interchange between me and brother John at the outhouse was interesting. 

For those of you who are devoted followers of this blog and find everything I post about fascinating and interesting, including myself which as you know I post a LOT about (after all this blog is about ME), enjoy this video. I know I did.

Above, me and brother John at a much earlier outhouse (1947), which visiting our step-aunt Mary in Compass, Pennsylvania. 

Tipton Family Reunion October 9, 2011 And A Family Secret Revealed

My apologies folks, I've been absent here for about a week. I have recovered fully from my bouts of vertigo. I'm back to my normal dizziness. 

This past week has been wonderful with the mild temperatures. Today the high was 68 degrees! I'll take it. I actually could go through the whole winter with these mild degrees. I've seen enough snow in my life, don't have to experience it in person any more. Having said that, I do appreciate the change of weather. I like the four seasons.

During my recovery this week I got back to making for Memory videos of my thousands of photos and videos. This one I'm posting now is  video compilation of photos taken by my friend Mark Himes of my family reunion at the East Brandywine Community Park on a sunny, brisk fall day October 9, 2011.  I understand that most people who read my blog have no idea who these people are in this video. Most of them are my first cousins and their families. The initial opening of this video is of my cousin Tom Tipton with his young step son and my other cousin Ed "Bud" Tipton. We were visiting Bud and his mother (my aunt) Mabel, for whom Bud was the caretaker. 

The second part of the video with the big guy in the orange pullover is my younger brother Isaac. He helped me set up the tables at the reunion but once the folks started to arrive, he took off. Isaac is shy.  

I think I had one more family reunion which I will post in the future. That was the last one though. My family is getting too dispersed.  We originally started these reunions with my father and his ten brothers. 

The first Tipton Family Reunion with all eleven Tipton brothers, my father is the tallest in the back on the right. Picture taken 1960 Kerr Park, Downingtown, PA. I wasn't at this reunion, I was in the Army when this reunion took place

They're all gone now and about a third of their thirty-six legitimate children are also gone.
There are a few illegitimate children including the one memorial market "David Tkachick" featured at the beginning of the video. That was an interesting story.  He was the adopted son of my parents neighbors Joy and Chick Tkchak.  He was brain damaged at birth and lived most of his short life in their garden house next door to my parents' three acre property.  He couldn't stand, nor talk because he was damaged at birth by his mother who tried to self abort herself but wasn't successful.  One summer day in 2001 I was in the garden with my Mother and I heard "David" cry from the pond/garden house where he lived. My Mother said "You know that's Tip's (one of my uncles) son?"  I said, "No, I didn't."  "You mean he's my cousin?"  She said "I guess he is."  Small world.  She told me Tip had gotten this lady from the church next to where he lived in his rental cabin pregnant. He didn't want to take responsibility and she didn't either. She tried to abort her baby but wasn't successful.  David was born with brain damage. He lived only into his twenties. Makes you wonder how many stories like this are buried in history with time. I only knew about it by chance when my Mother mentioned it because we could hear David moaning from his pool house.

My Mother talking to her neighbor "Chick" Tkachick at the mutual border of their property Augst 2002.  David lived in a pool house back to the left of Chick. I eventually told Chick and his wife Joy who David was after my Mother died. I don't think it ever registered with them. They didn't say too much about it. By the way, the flowers that Chick has are ones I picked for him from my garden.  My father used to have a garden on the property adding the Tkachick's.  He grew corn. After he died, I were flowers and herbs. Everyone is gone now including my Mother and Chick. My brother Isaac lives on the property now. Lost of information here, maybe not of interest to the casual reader of this blog but perhaps someone researching me in the future after I'm long gone but my blog will lived forever.

My Genealogy Blog

Tipton Family Reunion October 2011

Hey folks!  Here is my genealogy blog.  I've had it up for several years but have been remiss in updating it.  However, I am making a sincere attempt to be more timely in my postings. To see it go here.


I really love my genealogy postings and have neglected it for far too long. Most of my blog postings are on this blog, Retired in Delaware.  I have to watch myself that I don't descend into complaining and depressing blogs.  I am never depressed when I do my genealogy blog.

Yesterday I finalized the plans for our annual Tipton Family Reunion in Downingtown. As in years past the reunion will be held on Columbus Day Weekend.

Even though it is a Tipton Family Reunion, all are invited because we are all family aren't we?

Come join us this Sunday October 7th, 2012 at the East Brandywine Park in Guthriesville, Pennsylvania.

Cousin Richard "R.D." Tipton will be catering.  Below is his the menu.  Only $10.00 a head, children free.

A special treat, as last year, my blogger friend Mark of "Our Simple Lives" will be on hand to take his wonderful photos.  Mark is an extremely talented photographer and I am lucky to have his services available for my family reunion.

With all the negativity in the air these days because of politics, what better remedy than for family to get together and share happiness?  Lots of smiles always at the reunions.  Come join us!

Our fabulous photographer - MARK!

Tipton Family Reunion Movie Part One

This is part one of a movie that I made of some of the many wonderful photos my friend Mark Himes of "Our Simple Lives" blog. took at my family reunion this past October 9th, 2011 at the East Brandywine Park near Downingtown, Pennsylvania.

I'm really enjoying making these iMovies.  I still have a lot to learn but I think I have the basics down.  More movies on the way.  This is way better than a slide show!

A little narrative as to who is in this movie:

The movie open with me (in the green hat) and my "baby" brother Isaac, Jr. (in the orange pullover) arriving first at the pavilion to set up the tables and place the Tipton Reunion Banner.

First to arrive were our cousins Darlene Tipton Ford and Rita Tipton Buxbaum, daughters of my uncle Luther Raymond "Dude" Tipton.  Darlene's son David Ford arrived with them.

They all signed the guest book.

Next to arrive was my cousin Bob Tipton and his wife Marie and daughter Sharon who traveled all the way from Marietta, Georgia.  Cousin Bob brought along his chihuahua dog Brutus.  Cousin Bob is the son of my uncle Erby Erwin Tipton.

Next in the picture is 11 year old Hunter Tipton, on crutches.  Hunter has a twin brother named Tanner Tipton.  Hunter and Tanner are the sons of Paul and Linda Tipton.  Paul is the grandson of my uncle Erby Tipton.  Hunter injured his leg playing football.

Next to arrive is my cousin Tom Tipton, Jr along with his wife Kathleen.  Tom is also the grandson of Erby Tipton.  Tom is also on crutches.  He severely injured his leg in a motorcycle accident.  Thank goodness he is healing nicely although he does have an ugly Frankenstein scar on his leg.

Next to arrive is cousin Louis Tipton White with her daughter Debbie Fincke and her son Aaron Fincke.  Louis is the daughter of my uncle Erby Tipton.  Louise's husband Fred White also arrive.  He is in the red shirt shaking my hand at the end of this movie.

There, I hope I didn't confuse the reader too much.  If you're of the Tipton family, you know the players.  If not, oh well.

Part Two will show more Tiptons arriving.  My father had ten brothers.  They all had families.  The largest contingent, that of uncle Ray's line didn't show up.  Hopefully they will come next year.

I plan on having an annual Tipton Family reunion every year as long as I'm able to do it.  My thanks to my friend and fellow blogger Mark H. for the fabulous photos.  Thanks Mark!