Fred Lipscomb, Jr. was born on October 1, 1939 in Cusseta, Alabama.  He was the first of six children born to Fred Lipscomb and Hattie Pearl Boazman.  Growing up in Alabama, Fred was given the nickname “June Bug” by members of his extended family.  He enjoyed sports and played high school football until he broke his leg, causing his mother to urge him to quit.  As a youngster, Fred attended a one-room school, later sharing stories about walking to school in his bare feet (although no one else could ever confirm this!).  He graduated from Harrison High School in West Point, GA in 1959.

After high school, Fred moved to Detroit, MI during a time when many others migrated “up north” to find work.  He lived with his Aunt Mary Blackman and her family as he settled into life in Detroit.  In 1959, he met Lena Mae Smith through mutual friends and they got married in 1960.  Eventually, other members of Fred’s family would also move to Detroit.

In 1961, after their first child Cheryl was born, Fred and his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio.  Fred initially worked various jobs, before joining Ford Motor Company in early 1965.  By 1969, Fred and Lena had three other children (Jackie, Chris, and Lisa) and he solidified his career at Ford Motor Company’s Stamping Plant in Walton Hills, Ohio.

In the 1970s, Fred enrolled in an apprenticeship program at Ford Motor Company, where he studied to become a millwright.  He worked during the day and attended school at night.  Then after four years, he graduated as a millwright, which is a skilled trade designation, and was just shy of attaining a Bachelor’s degree.  Fred retired from Ford Motor Company in 2007 after almost 43 years of distinguished service.

Fred loved to take road trips.  He traveled “down south” with his family every year to visit relatives. These road trips were rituals that were engrained in his children and helped to establish strong ties to their roots.  Even after his children left home, Fred and Lena would set out on extensive road trips with Fred’s brother-in-law and his wife as they visited distant cities, including Seattle, San Francisco and Reno, Nevada.  Fred loved these excursions.

One of Fred’s favorite sayings was, “It’s better to have and not need, than to need and not have”, which he instilled in his children with the message to be prepared for the unknown.  Fred was one of the nicest people you could ever know.  He had an easy-going spirit and was always willing to help anyone in need.

Even as Fred’s health began to decline in his post-retirement years, he traveled until he was no longer able, still enjoying the open road.  Fred passed away on Saturday, December 11th.  His family surrounded him as he fought until the very end.

Fred leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife and caretaker, Lena;  as well as his children, Cheryl, Jackie, Christopher (Kim), and Lisa (David Long); his grandchildren, Krystina Bailey (Ian), Makayla, and Dela.  He also leaves his siblings, Mary Trammell, Josephine Lipscomb, Irish Hodges, and Norman Lipscomb (Jacalyn), along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other loved ones.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Hattie Pearl Shell and his father, Fred Lipscomb, as well as his sister Hattie Mae Lipscomb.