William James Sipes
1932 – 2022
A retired aeronautical engineer and Naval fighter pilot, William James Sipes was drawn to the sky but was a down-to-earth man of family, faith, logic, and education, who opened his home to youth seeking housing, learning, and guidance throughout the years.
Bill Sipes died at home in Canyon Country, Calif. on April 6, 2022. He was 89. Bill was born September 14, 1932, in Topeka Kansas. His father died in 1941 when Bill was just nine years old. His mother provided for the family of four during World War II and headed up the Office of Price Administration for the Winfield, Kansas area, managing war rations. Bill worked summers at Harvey Beiler’s ranch in Kansas. “Big B” was a second father figure to Bill.
Bill’s senior year of high school, he received one of the 50 naval scholarships offered in Kansas. At the insistence of his mother and parish priest, Fr. Thomas Glynn, Bill applied to Notre Dame as a long shot. He was accepted but didn’t have the money to attend. Fr. Glynn raised the money from a parishioner. At Notre Dame, Bill joined Navy ROTC and majored in aeronautical engineering, graduating in 1954.
Bill entered the Navy as a Lieutenant J.G. and became a fighter pilot. He flew FJ-3 fighter jets, making 96 aircraft carrier landings in the Pacific, traveling to Hawaii, Guam, Japan, and Hong Kong. The Blue Angels selected Bill to fly with them for a week while they filmed a TV show, and years later his squadron was turned into the Top Gun squadron.
Bill met his first wife, Mary Dart Sipes on a blind date. Instantly smitten, he asked the beautiful nurse to marry him on their second date. They married a year later in 1957 and had six children: Anne, Sharon, Tom, Diane, David, and Jimmy. Sadly, in December of 1974 the family’s youngest child, Jimmy, age 5, died in a car accident.
Bill and Mary opened their home over the years to include more children. First, three teenagers from Mexico became family, followed by ten foreign exchange students who each lived with the family for a year of high school, and a local youth who lived with the family during his senior year. Twenty kids in all, each cherished. Bill worked hard to see that they all did well in school and life. The tradition of opening their home carried on into future generations.
In August of 2011, Bill’s wife of 53 years, Mary, died suddenly of an aneurysm. Bill later met Sally Coss at Father Ed Renehan’s funeral. Sally, widowed like Bill, was a kindred spirit. They both had six children, lost a son at the age of five, and were well-known in their parishes. Bill and Sally wed with both families present on December 23, 2013. It has often been said that Bill managed to marry two saints.
“Coach Sipes” is remembered fondly by many phenomenal local athletes. He was head coach of the Santa Clarita Valley Athletic Association Warrior youth track team for decades, building the team up to 400 athletes. The team became a local powerhouse and feeder for Santa Clarita High Schools’ championship Track and Cross County teams.
Bill loved sports. He kept his family moving with 5:15 AM runs. Bill assisted the Canyon High School football team and filmed the team games for many years. He was an avid tennis player.
In Gilroy, California, Bill Sipes was a member of Junior Toastmasters, ran for the school board, and helped found the Jaycees. With Bill’s help, the Jaycees built Christmas Hill Park, the site of the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival.
Through a career leading engineering teams in the aerospace industry, Bill became an acknowledged expert in his field, contributing to several patents. In later years, he was a valued consultant with JPL and NASA, winning NASA awards.
Bill actively participated at church. He was a lector, Eucharistic Minister, and headed the annual church BBQ. He sang loudly at Mass (often to the chagrin of his children) and enjoyed singing in a barbershop quartet.
Bill’s positive attitude shined through to the end. No matter how things were going, he would answer, “Great!” with a big smile when asked how he was.
Bill is survived by his wife Sally, children: Anne (Richard) Haro Sipes, Sharon (Robert) Van Belleghem, Tom (former wife, Kassi), Diane (Tom) Cwik, David (Anne), Ana Alvarado, Carmen (Don) Holloway, and Teresa (Jack) Barnhill, and exchange students: Dan Fasnacht (Switzerland), Vera Zivanovic’ (Yugoslavia); Jonas Uppenberg, Ulf Carenback, Stefan Hesselegren, Henrik Lansenfeldt (Sweden); Oscar Rodriguez (Chile); Alex Uy (Philippines); Frank Dellinger and Alex Pils (Germany); and local youth Scott Caldwell (California). From the Coss side of the family: Elizabeth Coss, Michael (Barbara) Coss, Virginia (Falco) DiGiallonrado, Jacquie Hilton, and Patrick Coss. Together, Bill and Sally have 25 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren with three on the way. He is preceded in death by his first wife Mary, son Jimmy, sister Joan, and brother Jack.
Funeral services will be held at St. Clare Church in Canyon Country on May 12, 11:30 a.m. with a Rosary at 11:00 a.m.
Bill was a huge advocate of education. The family asks that donations be made to the Santa Clarita Valley Scholarship Foundation in lieu of flowers.