Obituary for Dan Tipton
Dan, 89, was Born in Kendrick Oklahoma June 4, 1930 to James Daniel and Blanche Mae (Miller) Tipton, he was raised in the community of Cushing, Oklahoma graduating from Cushing High School in 1948. Dan enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged in 1951. He married the love of his life Threca Faye “Terri “ (Newman) Tipton on October 22, 1950 at the Cushing Church of God in Cushing, Oklahoma, and to this union were born two daughters Diane & Susan who were the light of their lives. Dan’s first job in healthcare was an x-ray technician at the Cushing Hospital. Dan was a graduate of Oklahoma City University with a Masters in Business Administration. Dan was the original chief executive officer of South Community Hospital, now known as INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center. He led the hospital from 1963 before it was even built, until the merger with INTEGRIS in 1995.
He is credited for building the hospital literally from the ground up. He was involved in the early fundraising that made the hospital possible. He had a lot of pride in south OKC and felt the area desperately needed a medical facility to meet the needs of that community. He was able to foster that dream into a reality.
Groundbreaking for the hospital began April 2, 1964. It officially opened Nov. 1, 1965. It started small with only three stories, 73 beds, and a staff of 130 people. Just four years later, the hospital had expanded to 200 beds with 450 employees.
Passionate about healthcare and his community he was instrumental in bringing medical specialists to the area with the opening of the Central Oklahoma Cancer Center in 1988. It was the first complete outpatient cancer facility in central Oklahoma. The Sleep Disorders Center soon followed, also opening in 1988. The five-story Medical Plaza building opened in 1993 and the Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital opened in 1994. He essentially oversaw the entire growth and development of the current INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center campus, which is now 10 stories tall, with 334 licensed beds and over 1,100 employees.
A faithful servant to the hospital until the very end. He actively served on the INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center Board of Directors until early 2018 and remained on the board in Emeritus status.
Dan poured time and love into his family during his retirement. You could find him in Colorado visiting his daughter and being a Papa to his grandchildren or at the family lake house on Lake Tenkiller. All of this with his loving wife Terri of 69 years by his side.
He was a man of strong faith and character. He loved his God, his Country, and his Family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Sisters; Thelma, Dorothy, Alla May, Pat, Kathy and his half brother Luke.
He is survived by his wife Terri of the home; daughters Diane “Dee” Tipton and Susan “Susie “ Orander; grandchildren Kellie Williams and her husband Dave and their children Riley and Colton; Luke Orander and his wife Haylee and their children Owen and Olivia; Caleb Orander and his children Ryker and Bentley; numerous nieces nephews cousins extended family and a community of grateful friends.
Honor is the currency of Heaven. We honor Dan and recognize the tremendous legacy he left for his family, the south OKC community, and INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center.
He is credited for building the hospital literally from the ground up. He was involved in the early fundraising that made the hospital possible. He had a lot of pride in south OKC and felt the area desperately needed a medical facility to meet the needs of that community. He was able to foster that dream into a reality.
Groundbreaking for the hospital began April 2, 1964. It officially opened Nov. 1, 1965. It started small with only three stories, 73 beds, and a staff of 130 people. Just four years later, the hospital had expanded to 200 beds with 450 employees.
Passionate about healthcare and his community he was instrumental in bringing medical specialists to the area with the opening of the Central Oklahoma Cancer Center in 1988. It was the first complete outpatient cancer facility in central Oklahoma. The Sleep Disorders Center soon followed, also opening in 1988. The five-story Medical Plaza building opened in 1993 and the Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital opened in 1994. He essentially oversaw the entire growth and development of the current INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center campus, which is now 10 stories tall, with 334 licensed beds and over 1,100 employees.
A faithful servant to the hospital until the very end. He actively served on the INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center Board of Directors until early 2018 and remained on the board in Emeritus status.
Dan poured time and love into his family during his retirement. You could find him in Colorado visiting his daughter and being a Papa to his grandchildren or at the family lake house on Lake Tenkiller. All of this with his loving wife Terri of 69 years by his side.
He was a man of strong faith and character. He loved his God, his Country, and his Family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Sisters; Thelma, Dorothy, Alla May, Pat, Kathy and his half brother Luke.
He is survived by his wife Terri of the home; daughters Diane “Dee” Tipton and Susan “Susie “ Orander; grandchildren Kellie Williams and her husband Dave and their children Riley and Colton; Luke Orander and his wife Haylee and their children Owen and Olivia; Caleb Orander and his children Ryker and Bentley; numerous nieces nephews cousins extended family and a community of grateful friends.
Honor is the currency of Heaven. We honor Dan and recognize the tremendous legacy he left for his family, the south OKC community, and INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center.