|
 Clipper
Extraordinaire Kipka Saves History of Interest
When Thomas Mortimer
McKnight became a newspaper man in 1932, little did he know that his
cousin-by-marriage Fannie Whitlow Kipka would become a "clipper
extraordinaire", saving and sharing bits of history each time she read
McKnight's publications, The Rounder, The News-Leader and The Tribune,
as well as the Mooresville Enterprise and the Charlotte Observer.
With her special scissors in hand,
Mrs. Kipka follows a daily tradition that spans 78 years. Reading the
news and features, she clips articles and photos of interest and often
mails them to her friends and family.
She and local merchant Edward Kipka
married in 1932 and made their home in the West Center Avenue area known
as Seminole Hill. Edward was active in local events, leading civic
groups like the Kiwanis and taking photos of the news as it happened.
From his office on Main Street in the People's Furniture building, he
took time to meet and greet his fellow citizens and welcome visitors to
Mooresville.
Meanwhile his wife, whom he called
"Babe", worked with the Town of Mooresville, keeping the tax books
up-to-date and balanced. She completed courses at Davidson College,
Queens College and UNC Charlotte, while raising daughters Sarah (Sides)
and Mary (Brawley).
Widowed in 1964, she decided to leave
her job in the Mooresville Tax Office and become a teacher. Kipka
entered Appalachian State University and graduated with a degree in
education at the age of 53.
In a resolution signed by Town
Manager Tate Mills, her fellow employees offered congratulations on her
desire to " further her education and be in the higher income bracket of
taxpayers, thus making her eligible to be a complainer." Complainer she
wasn't. Excellent teacher at South School she most certainly was! Her
work in the elementary grades made her a beloved teacher.
Kipka has kept close touch with
community events since she moved to Mooresville to attend Lowrance
Hospital School of Nursing in 1930. Nursing took a backseat to marriage,
and she and Edward Kipka married and raised a family. "I would have
completed my nursing studies, but students could not be married, and
Miss Furchess was very strict about the rules." says Kipka.
 She
and her husband made their home in a 1914 Sears Roebuck " Honor Bilt
Modern Home." The Kipka's spent time and energy in their daughters'
activities in school and church, with Edward Kipka serving as one of the
few South School PTA presidents. She makes every effort to do the same
with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
At the age of
94 she remains actively interested in local events, spending part of
each day reading newspapers and clipping the "important and interesting
articles and photos." She often saves the entire paper, amassing a
collection including most of the early issues of the "Charlotte
Observer's Iredell Neighbors."
In the 78 years she has lived in
Mooresville, her interest and involvement in community activities never
waned.
Fannie "Babe" Kipka is, no doubt, one
of the Tribune's most avid and dedicated readers, adding snippets of
current events to her scrapbooks and sharing at least some of them with
her friends. |
