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Charles was born at home in Jefferson, Oklahoma on March 28th, 1931 to Elcy and Amy Nipper and passed from this life on Thursday January 28, 2022 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Charles grew up on a farm west of Medford, Oklahoma with 1 brother and 3 sisters. He was proceeded in death by his wife Frances, his parents, his brother Thomas, and his sisters Mildred (Cote), Maxine (Rockman), and Melba (Quasny). He attended both the Jefferson and Medford United Methodist Church growing up.
After Charles graduated Jefferson High School in 1949, ultimately earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Oklahoma A&M College. Charles was an accomplished athlete in his youth even having played basketball while at A&M under legendary coach Henry Iba.
Charles married his one and only true love Frances Grayson in the Medford Methodist church on May 30th, 1952, and then enjoyed the next 56 years of their lives happily married. After their marriage Charles and Frances both attended and graduated from Oklahoma A&M college together.
Frances and Charles had two children Arlen Nipper (Sherri), and Tammie Lore (Brian), four grandchildren Chelsea Pardue (Ryan), Jacob Lore (Ross Janssen), Nikki Thomas (Kyle), David Lore (Maddie), and 4 great grandchildren Grayson Thomas, Rowan Thomas, Rylee Pardue and Brynn Lore.
During his career, Charles worked for several US defense contractors on the Minute Man Missile project. This experience led to NASA hiring him for work on the Apollo Space program. Charles and Frances traveled quite extensively for the Missile Program living in Alamogordo NM, Yuma AZ, Oklahoma City OK, New York City NY, Cheyenne WY, and Altus OK. For the Nasa Program Charles and Frances lived in Las Cruces NM, and Houston TX. Charles left NASA in 1967 to move back and take over the family farm. In addition to raising wheat and Herford cattle, Charles was also an accomplished aerial patrol pilot logging well over 25,000 hours and flying well into his late seventies in his trusty Cessna 180, call sign "Two Charlie November".
Charles truly enjoyed his life as a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, engineer, and farmer. He became an engineer during the space race but transitioned to farming and flying pipeline. He was engaged in all his children?s school activities and stressed the importance of education and learning for your entire life. He built Ham radio equipment from scratch and built a custom house on the farm for his wife Frances complete with a greenhouse for all her plants and an awesome spiral staircase inspired by the spiral staircases used in the Missile silos. He had no idea that the private pilot license he got while working for NASA would turn into his love for flying and a 40-year career.
A memorial service for Charles will be held on Saturday, February 26th at 11:00 am, at the First United Methodist Church in Medford Oklahoma.
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