Charles Hipps

Waynesville-Charles William Hipps, age 59, District Attorney of the 30th Judicial District, State of North Carolina, died unexpectedly, Friday, February 28, 2003 at Haywood Regional Medical Center.

He was a native and resident of Haywood County most of his life. He was the son of Hazel Rhinehart Hipps, of Lake Junaluska and the late John Gudger Hipps. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Richard Hipps.

He was a 1961 graduate of Waynesville Township High School and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science in 1965 from UNC-Chapel Hill. He was the drum major for four years while in college. He entered Emory University School of Law in 1966 and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law in 1968.

He began his legal practice in 1968 in Waynesville. He was an assistant district attorney from 1970 to 1973. He served as a member of the North Carolina Senate from 1981 to 1988. He was also a former alderman and Mayor Pro-Tem for the Town of Waynesville. In 1990 he was elected as District Attorney of the 30th Judicial District, State of North Carolina, the position which he held at the time of his death. He was a former president of the Haywood County Bar Association, 30th Judicial District.

He was currently a Master Chief with the United States Naval Reserve, with 18 years of service. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Waynesville and had participated with the choir. He was also a Mason and member of the Waynesville Masonic Lodge No. 259 AF and AM. He was a Trustee Emeritus of Western Carolina University and former member of the Board of Visitors of UNC-Chapel Hill.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife of 34 years, Jane Bates Hipps; one daughter, Elizabeth Jane Hipps and her husband, Christopher Midyette, of Raleigh; two sons, Lt. William Travis Hipps, who is stationed in Australia and John Bates Hipps, a senior medical student at UNC-Chapel Hill; one sister, Wanda Miller and her husband, Bob, of Waynesville; one brother, James Bruce Hipps and his wife Brenda, of Waynesville; two grandchildren, Jackson Bryce and Caleb Charles Midyette, of Raleigh.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 2003 at the First United Methodist Church of Waynesville. The Reverend Dr. W. Lyn Sorrells, Reverend John Christy, Reverend Dr. W. T. Medlin, Jr. and Reverend Dr. Horwood P. Myers, Jr. will officiate. Burial will be at Green Hill Cemetery with military graveside rites. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. Monday, March 3, 2003 at Wells Funeral Home in Waynesville.

Memorials may be made to the Waynesville First United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 838, Waynesville, NC 28786 or to the Haywood County Public Library, 678 S. Haywood Street, Waynesville, NC 28786.

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