Carroll Ely Lippincott of Lahaska passed away on the morning of February 2, 2024. He was 92 years old and devoted husband of Diana.
Born to Charlotte Olden Ely and her then husband, Carroll was raised in Lansdowne, but enjoyed regular trips with his Lippincott grandparents to the woods of Maine and with his Ely grandparents to their house in Margate, NJ. As a teenager, Carroll raised Cain around Lansdowne with his lifelong friend, Jon Wood. Upon graduation from high school in 1952, the two friends enlisted in the Air Force together, receiving consecutive service numbers; both were deployed to Puerto Rico. Carroll served as an aircraft mechanic. In 1954, he was transferred to McGuire AFB. By then, Carroll’s mother had remarried, moved to Buckingham and had met a very pretty young woman named Diana. Charlotte introduced Diana to her son and the two were married on a blazing hot day in July 1955.
Carroll completed his active service in the Air Force in June 1956, then four additional years of Reserve Duty. In 1960, he received an honorable discharge. Upon completion of his active duty, and under the mentorship of his in-laws, Arch and Mildred Thiele, Carroll entered the antiques business. He learned how to restore furniture and opened a store in what was to become Peddler’s Village. Later, Carroll and Diana purchased the house on Lower York Road which was to become their home and business for the rest of their lives.
In 1966, two became three as they welcomed baby Sarah. Lippincott’s Antiques provided a good living and Sarah was one of the few toddlers who ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner with both parents. Carroll worked hard to earn his pilot’s license and purchase an aircraft. He flew all over New England and the Mid-Atlantic on buying trips for the store and for family vacations. Carroll was an avid collector, starting with Colonial era flasks, then Bohemian Glass, and finally, Teddy Bears.
Noticing shifting trends, Carroll and Diana changed the focus of their store to “Classic” furniture: new furniture made to the standards of the antiques they had sold. Business grew again. This was an exciting time and they enjoyed buying trips together, curating their stock. They retired from the store in 1995.
Retirement didn’t suit Carroll, his fingers were itchy for something to do so he began attending woodcarving classes and became quite good. He carved in a variety of styles from chip work to birds, but his specialty was “Early Americana” influenced works. Part of Carroll’s “retirement” was also taken up by a new role for him: Pop-pop, as his grandchildren call him.
Carroll was a caring soul who always tried to do right by people, be a good friend, and take care of his family. He will be missed by many. In addition to his wife, he is survived by: Sarah E. Lippincott, his daughter; Wayne D. Timm, his son-in-law; Rachel L. Timm and Jake Mauch, his granddaughter and her partner; and Griffin E. Timm and Steven A. Rufe, his grandson and grandson-in-law.
Carroll’s memorial service will be held at Buckingham Friends Meeting, 5684 York Road in Lahaska, on Monday, February 19th at 12:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bucks County SPCA, 1665 Street Road, New Hope, PA 18938, or Doylestown Health Foundation, 595 West State Street, Doylestown, PA 18901.
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