Charles William Lipscomb

Charles William “Bill” Lipscomb, 93 of Battle Creek passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Tuesday November 28, 2023.  He was born on July 30, 1930 in Battle Creek to Oscar William and Viva Ruth (Marshall) Lipscomb.  Bill attended Battle Creek Public Schools and left school to help his dad with work; he completed the 8^th grade.  Once in a while he would play football when he was not working, but he could make work fun as well. At age 5 he expressed a trust in Jesus and was baptized and he reaffirmed that he was still trusting Jesus on November 3, 2023. He was a Boy Scout and attained the rank of LIFE.  As an adult he was an Assistant Scout Master and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow.  He has been heard to say, “I love to work”, and he did.  Bill worked various jobs starting at age 5 helping his dad haul wood and sell it to their customers. By age 12 he would sneak the keys to the truck on a Saturday and go out to get more wood for he and his dad to sell.  He also worked sales jobs, parked cars in a parking lot and plowed snow.  He worked as a carpenter with a home builder for a while, but after proving himself the builder would not give him even a small raise in pay, so he moved on. He worked factory jobs; Oliver’s Corporation, Michigan Carton, Post Cereals and finally landed a job at Clark Equipment Company on August 11, 1950 where he worked for over 32 years, retiring on January 1, 1983.  He married his sweetheart Autumn Joanne Older on June 10, 1951 in Battle Creek.  They were married for 73 years and she survives him.

He is also survived by his four children; Robert W. “Bill” (Carol/deceased) Lipscomb, Mark S. (Ellen) Lipscomb, Khrystyne L. (Richard) Lipscomb-Jacoby and Pamela K. “Pam” (Ken) Smith.  Grandchildren; Brian (Mary) Jenkins of Union City, Michigan, Adam (Christy) Lipscomb of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Sarah (Bradley) Emerson of Grand Rapids, Anna (Terry) Brown of Kokomo, Indiana, David Heckman of Battle Creek, Michigan, Brad Heckman of Battle Creek, Michigan, Jessica Lynch of Grand Ledge, Michigan, BJ (Candy) Smith of Battle Creek, Zach (Missi) Smith of Battle Creek and 15 Great Grandchildren as well as many Nieces and Nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brothers and sisters; brothers, James G. (Margaret) Lipscomb, Albert Lewis “Lewie” (Jacqueline) Lipscomb and Robert E. Lipscomb and sisters, Ruth (Hewitt) Matson, and June (George) Boney.

Bill and Autumn met at the corner drug store and had their first date at Bailey Park watching fireworks.  They loved to dance, laugh and have a good time at whatever they were doing.  Bill was a man with a dream to build a life and Autumn became a quick partner in his dream.  Two years before they even married they purchased land for the building of the family home.  He had to plan strategically because money was tight, so he bought land for one dollar down and one dollar per week, sometimes he could only afford 50 cents. When they married they decided to build their family and the family residence right away.  “Let’s have our children while we are young, so that we can grow up with them.” While Bill and Autumn were busy working and having children they built their home together with their own two hands learning as they built. They moved into that home on Mother’s Day 1955.  Bill was a bit of a prankster in his younger years and always loved to tell stories - he would often try to “get your goat” - then he would just smile. As his family grew he wanted to see the United States so family vacations were planned to hit as many states as possible.

Alongside his commitment to family, Bill found solace and joy in the great outdoors, indulging in his passions for hunting and spending time at the cabin he meticulously built in the Up North woods. His hands were not only skilled in family matters but also in the craftsmanship of creating cherished memories in the heart of nature. Charles W. “Bill” Lipscomb's legacy endures in the love he shared, the quiet moments on the porch with his wife, the projects he undertook, and the quiet moments amidst the trees he so cherished.

Arrangements a by Richard A. Henry Funeral Home & Cremation Services.   A family gathering is being planned.